Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce offered to resign over a text message in which he called Scott Morrison "a hypocrite and a liar".
Brittany Higgins shared the message with media outlets this week, after Mr Joyce lashed an unnamed cabinet colleague for making derogatory comments about Scott Morrison.
Speaking to the media on Saturday morning, the Nationals leader said he called Mr Morrison immediately to apologise and offer his resignation after he found out the text messages were leaked.
"I offered my resignation and [Scott Morrison] did not accept my resignation.
"That, in itself, is a statement of a person of greater character. That is not one of a person of any form of vindictiveness or a sense of retribution."
Mr Joyce insisted that his "views" about Mr Morrison were based on "assumption and commentary" as a backbencher, rather than a personal, working relationship with the prime minister.
"From a one-on-one working relationship, I found a man who has honoured every agreement that he's made with me. And who I have noted has honoured every agreement that he's made with others from both sides of the political fence."
Mr Joyce said he trusts the prime minister. Source: AAP
The text message was forwarded to Ms Higgins last March when the Member for New England was a backbencher.
In it, he said: "Tell BH [Brittany Higgins], I and Scott, he is Scott to me until I have to recognise his office, don't get along.
"He is a hypocrite and a liar from my observations and that is over a long time. I have never trusted him and I dislike how he earnestly rearranges the truth to a lie”.
Mr Morrison released a statement on Friday night, saying that Mr Joyce apologised and that his apology was accepted.
“Barnaby approached me this week to inform me of these text messages,” Mr Morrison’s statement said.
“He sincerely apologised and I immediately accepted his apology in good faith.”
Mr Morrison went on to describe a series of factors that led to the criticism.
“I understand Barnaby was in a different headspace last year, both professionally and personally, and so I know he genuinely no longer feels this way. Relationships change over time. Politicians are human beings too. We all have our frailties and none of us are perfect," he said.
Mr Joyce's leaked text message adds to the current saga that surrounds the Coalition after another message exchange was released this week. reportedly between former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and an unnamed minister, describing Mr Morrison as a "complete psycho" and "fraud".
The messages between the minister and Ms Berejiklian were reported by Network 10, and allegedly labelled the prime minister a "horrible, horrible person" who was "actively spreading lies".
Mr Joyce called on the minister responsible to “out themselves ... and give an explanation”.
“Maybe it was a bad day in the office, I don’t know. [There's] a better way to do it,” he told reporters during a press conference in Tamworth on Wednesday.
No minister has claimed responsibility for the text messages.
