Nats MP backs Joyce from internal critics

One of Barnaby Joyce's colleagues is defending the Nationals deputy leader from internal party critics.

Some Nationals MPs believe the agriculture minister's opposition to the government's approval of the controversial Shenhua Watermark coal mine in NSW has damaged his standing, the ABC reports.

But Nationals senator Matt Canavan told ABC radio on Wednesday people like those with a backbone, and hate machiavellian people.