Senate calls for Barnaby Joyce to resign

The Senate has added insult to injury for Barnaby Joyce, calling on the embattled deputy prime minister to quit.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale moved a motion calling on Mr Joyce to resign for "clearly breaching the standards required of ministers" and if he does not resign, urging the National Party to sack him.

The motion passed the Senate on Thursday with the support of Labor, the two Nick Xenophon Team senators and independent Derryn Hinch.

Labor and the Greens have zeroed in on the under-fire Nationals leader over his acceptance of a rent-free apartment offered to him by businessman Greg Maguire.

He is also being grilled over whether any rules have been broken in regard to jobs provided to his former staffer and now partner Vikki Campion.