WA Nationals leader Mia Davies – the first woman to ever lead a Nationals branch at state or federal level – issued a statement saying she had called Mr Joyce to express the vote of no confidence and called on him to step down.

“Mr Joyce’s actions have caused pain for his family, but it is the ongoing damage Mr Joyce is causing the Nationals organisation that is of the greatest concern to me as WA Leader,” Ms Davies said.

“The Nationals brand across regional Western Australia has suffered as a result of Mr Joyce's actions and he has become a distraction at both federal and state level.

“It is the view of the parliamentary National Party of Western Australia that Mr Joyce's position as federal leader is no longer tenable.

“I recognise Mr Joyce for his service to the party over many years and acknowledge his work dedicated to the people of regional Australia.”

In his response, Mr Joyce acknowledge the concerns, but pointed out the WA branch “don't have a federal member of parliament in the National Party of Australia”.

”You last member spending their time almost exclusively as an independent and only cone or twice coming to the National Party room meetings,” Mr Joyce said.

“I also note, you are not in a Coalition in Western Australia and the WA Nats pride themselves on being ferocious independence.

“Therefore I find it surprising that a federal issue has so much momentum in the West when people in the east in the National Party have in the majority a different view – and to be quite frank, vastly more skin in the game.”

The Leader also attempted to contact NSW Nationals chairman Bede Burke for comment. 

On Tuesday, Mr Joyce told Fairfax Media he wasn’t going anywhere, blasting suggestions he should be ousted as Nationals leader as a “witch-hunt”.

Mr Joyce also played down a phone hook-up between Nationals officials on Monday afternoon.

“I am humbled by the support in my electorate and in the community,” he said.

“People are starting to see this as a witch hunt. 

“I'm not going anywhere, I never would.”

Mr Joyce said the phone hook-up was not an official meeting, reiterating the leader of the Nationals is decided by party MPs.

His NSW Nationals colleague Michael McCormack, who's been touted as a potential replacement, dodged multiple questions about the issue Monday, refusing six times to explicitly back Mr Joyce's leadership.

A Newspoll published by The Australian on Monday found 65 per cent of Australian voters believe Mr Joyce should quit as Nationals leader, and either go to the backbench or quit politics.