'Dress-ups and cook-ups': Nationals leader David Littleproud mocks Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce's steak dinner

Nationals leader David Littleproud lightly mocked Pauline Hanson's decision to woo Barnaby Joyce with a steak dinner while fielding questions about the New England MP's potential defection to One Nation.

Littleproud pointed that while Hanson and Joyce dined out on expensive wagyu beef, albeit cooked on an office sandwich press, millions of Australians "can't even put a sausage on a plate".

"I'm not interested in dress-ups and cook-ups. I'm worried about Australians being able to afford dinner tonight," Littleproud told reporters in Canberra.

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"She's one of the few Australians that can probably afford wagyu steak.

"What The National Party and I am worried about are the millions of Australians that last night struggled to put a sausage on the plate.

"Not a wagyu."

Hanson and Joyce fuelled speculation they may be joining forces after the One Nation leader cooked up a steak in her office on Monday evening.

Hanson, who has been banned from the Senate for seven days over her burqa stunt in the chamber earlier on Monday, said the final decision was "still up to Barnaby".

"I told you I was going to wine and dine him, but we will see what happens," she said.

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Joyce has so far refused to confirm whether he will exit politics altogether or join One Nation.

He plans to deliver the verdict on his political future by the end of the week.

Littleproud told reporters it was "disappointing" that Joyce has skipped party room meetings and said he is still the member for New England.

"He made a contract with the people of New England as The Nationals member," Littleproud added.

"He's made a statement that he won't re-contest that seat, but that contract still holds."

He said Joyce was still welcome to party room meetings with the Nationals, including discussions around net zero.

One Nation's approach to climate change may be the clincher for Joyce's decision, after he claimed the party's policy was, "unlike others", not "barking mad".

"It's disappointing he wasn't there," Littleproud added.

"But he can still play a significant role in selling that message right up to when he hands over the seat to whoever the next member for New England is."

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