Guests on Monday night's Q&A show have disagreed with the government's decision to ban frontbenchers from appearing on the ABC program.
Host Tony Jones acknowledged the absence of Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, noting that he was "instructed to withdraw" by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
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.
Foreign editor of the Australian newspaper, Greg Sheridan said the government was "mistaken" to enforce the Q&A ban.
“I do think the government is mistaken to not come on this show," Mr Sheridan said.
"But the Government is now in danger of making the sympathy flow against it, making itself the issue.
"All it needed to do was say 'you've been very naughty the ABC, and we are very disappointed in you' and let community sentiment express itself and move on.
“The ABC made a mistake with Zaky Mallah, everyone recognises that, but the government is now in danger of making itself the issue.”
The Australian Greens party and the Labor party were also critical of the move.
"I think Tony Abbott seeking to muzzle them in this forum is a huge mistake and one they'll resent," said Labor MP Richard Marles.
Greens senator Larissa Waters said it was an attempt to "silence the public broadcaster".
"We know this government doesn’t like transparency and it likes to silence those that try to criticise it," she said.
"This is yet another example of the Abbott government not liking criticism and wanting to silence the public broadcaster for being independent and not being a champion for the Abbott government’s agenda."
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull is still scheduled to appear on Q&A next week.
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