A cabinet minister has warned of chaos if Prime Minister Tony Abbott's edict against appearing on the ABC's Q&A program is ignored.
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce was to appear on the program on Monday night.
But having confirmed his appearance in a Sunday morning ABC Insiders interview, he later said he'd been ordered by the prime minister not to go on Q&A.
Asked about the confusion during a National Press Club address on Monday, Mr Joyce said he'd received clear instructions.
"It is by deference to the prime minister that when an instruction comes through it is obeyed," Mr Joyce said.
"Otherwise the whole process of cabinet becomes chaotic.
"Do I think it would have been good to know a little bit earlier? Yes, it would be nice. But that's life, you take it on the chin."
ABC managing director Mark Scott, in a tweet, said Mr Abbott's instruction was a "missed opportunity" for the minister to discuss the newly-released agriculture white paper in front of the million people who watch the show.
Mr Joyce said it was unlikely there would have been a question about the white paper.
Labor frontbencher Brendan O'Connor told reporters in Darwin Mr Abbott's decision was bad for democracy.
"The fact that the ABC is our public broadcaster ... It is really against the grain of the democracy in which we live," he said.
"If I was Barnaby Joyce I'd be very embarrassed right now."
Cabinet minister Scott Morrison said he has no plans to appear on Q&A and hadn't done so since the coalition came to government in 2013.
Asked whether it was right for Mr Abbott to tell ministers they could not go on the show, Mr Morrison said: "Well, that is not actually what the prime minister has said.
"There is a review process under way currently with the program as I understand and it is important for the ABC to work through those issues."
Mr Abbott's office on Monday said that given the ABC was undertaking an independent inquiry into the appearance on Q&A of former terror suspect Zaky Mallah, it wasn't appropriate for Mr Joyce to appear.
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull is still scheduled to appear on Q&A next week.
Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon said he'd like to have a bet on the minister still appearing.
"I would be amazed if Malcolm Turnbull doesn't do what Barnaby Joyce should do today and give the prime minister the single finger and get on with it," he said.
Mr Abbott's parliamentary secretary Alan Tudge withdrew from last week's program.
It is understood the prime minister has not directly provided advice about the ban on Q&A appearances to all ministers and backbenchers.
Asked whether ministers had been specifically briefed, a spokesman for the prime minister referred to Mr Joyce not appearing on Monday's program.
"Given the ABC is undertaking an inquiry into Q&A, it isn't appropriate for the minister to appear tonight," the spokesman said.
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