Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has spoken with Barnaby Joyce after the renegade MP blew up his relationship with Nationals colleagues but is keeping tight lipped on the conversation.

Ms Ley said she called the former deputy prime minister "to check in" but would not give further details about the conversation, with speculation Mr Joyce will defect to One Nation.

"I did give Barnaby a call because, you know, we've been colleagues in parliament for a long time," she said during a Q&A session at a Centre for Independent Studies event in Sydney.

Mr Joyce announced plans to leave the Nationals and says he won't contest his regional NSW seat at the next election.

The outspoken MP also confirmed he has had two conversations with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, but insists a formal change in h

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