Aust would go down toilet if Hanson was PM

Barnaby Joyce has issued a warning for Australia if Pauline Hanson was in charge, saying the nation would 'go down the toilet'.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce speaks during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra Source: AAP

If Australia was run by One Nation it would "go down the toilet", Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has warned.

Mr Joyce issued the declaration as he opened his department's two-day economic forum in Canberra on Tuesday.

"This is not a soap. This is not some game show, not My Kitchen Rules," he said when asked about Pauline Hanson's party.

"This is running a country."

The acting prime minister conceded some people would find such independents entertaining, and they would liven up the otherwise dour political debate.

But he urged people to ask themselves which ministries they would want the minor party to occupy.

"You've got to ask yourself where do you think your nation will go ... (if they) were to run the country," he said.

"As an accountant, as a farmer I can tell you exactly where it's going to go, and it's going to go down the toilet."

He pledged to always accept the view of the people whatever it was, but claimed to know where the "movie" ends when you get it wrong.

He later told reporters he wouldn't rule out doing preference deals with One Nation.

But he said people need to decide who they want to run the country and protect Australian values.

Mr Joyce also said it was wrong of Senator Hanson to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"His country developed a missile which murdered a lot of Australians," he said, citing the downing of MH17.