Canavan hopes to woo Joyce back to the Nationals

The now-independent maverick MP announced his resignation from the Nationals after 30 years with "a heavy heart" last week.

The twice-deputy prime minister had earlier announced he wouldn't recontest his seat of New England at the 2028 election.

Mr Joyce cited an irreparable breakdown in his relationship with leader David Littleproud, and frustrations with the party's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 which has since been dumped.

His Nationals' colleagues had worked for weeks to convince their former leader to stay in the party, and it appears the fight isn't over for Senator Canavan who said Mr Joyce would be a "prodigal son" if he returned.

"I'm going to be travelling through New England in the next few days, so maybe I'll catch up with Barnaby," the vocal net zero critic said in Canberra on Friday.

"He hasn't signed for another team so I hold out hope he'll come back, he'll see the light and come back to his natural home of the Nationals Party."

Mr Joyce said he was "strongly considering" a move to One Nation and jumping to the Senate, where he would have more of a chance to push for change.

The maverick MP will sit on the crossbench and said he remains open to a Senate tilt with the far-right party, after he dined with leader Pauline Hanson, who wooed him with a wagyu steak seared on a sandwich press in her office.

Senator Canavan said Mr Joyce has "great work to do in the future, especially killing off this net zero scam".

"I'll keep doing what I can to convince him to rejoin our team ... I'm already fattening the calves," he said.

Mr Littleproud previously said the decision was disheartening after the party had supported Mr Joyce through his darkest moments.

"It is disappointing for the people of New England and disappointing for the loyal National Party members who tirelessly volunteered over the past two decades to support his political ambitions," he said in a statement.

Australian Associated Press