Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce has backed Christian Porter for a comeback

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has called for fallen minister Christian Porter to get another chance on the front bench sometime in the future.

Christian Porter deserves “another chance” at a senior role in government according to his colleagues, even as ­uncertainty remains over his acceptance of secret donations to cover personal legal fees.

A day after Mr Porter resigned as minister, denying any wrongdoing but acknowledging the issue was a “distraction” for the government, he has been backed for a future return to the front bench by Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.

“(Mr Porter) has had a bad day at the wicket, no doubt about that, and that issue has been dealt with,” Mr Joyce said. “I believe he should be given another chance at some future time in a senior role.”

Christian Porter has resigned from the frontbench over accepting secret donations. Picture: AFP

Mr Joyce said on the backbench Mr Porter was now only answerable to constituents in his electorate of Pearce.

Several Coalition MPs backed Mr Porter’s right to defend himself against historic rape allegations, including launching the now-settled defamation case against the ABC for which the costs were partially covered by a blind trust of unknown donors.

Employment Minister Stuart Robert said it was “heartbreaking” reading what Mr Porter had been subjected to as a result of outing himself as the minister at the centre of the ­allegation, which he has strenuously denied.

Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says Christian Porter should one day return to the ministry. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gary Ramage

“But he’s made a decision (to resign), he’s upheld ministerial standards,” he said.

Labor has demanded Mr Porter pay back the money, arguing it remained inappropriate for an MP to accept potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in anonymous donations.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said there were “many questions” that remained unanswered including who provided the money, why and if there were any conflicts of interest.

“There are real reasons why Members of Parliament have obligations to declare publicly any private interests that they receive, and that’s precisely what this is,” he said.