Mr Joyce described as "rubbish" a comment by Mr Oakeshott that he could not recall the conversation that he had in 2007 with NSW Premier Morris Iemma about becoming a minister.

Comment: Oakeshott is just another wily politician

Reports in News Limited papers allege Mr Oakeshott - who is set to reveal today if he will accept an offer from Prime Minister Julia Gillard for a regional affairs role - pushed for the state role. At the time, Mr Oakeshott was the state independent member for Port Macquarie, having defected from the Nationals.

Mr Iemma is cited in the reports as confirming that Mr Oakeshott made the approach.

But despite a warning yesterday from Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to lay off Mr Oakeshott, and his fellow independent, Tony Windsor, Mr Joyce seized on the reports - describing as "rubbish" Mr Oakeshott's claim that he could not recall the conversation.

He told Sky News that it was "rubbish" that someone would not remember such a significant exchange.

The reports stated Mr Oakeshott was encouraged to approach Mr Iemma because of the premier's decision to apppoint Richard Torbay, an independent, as Speaker in parliament.

Mr Joyce said it was now clear Mr Oakeshott had not been impartial in his negotiations with the major parties on who to support to form a minority government.

"This would clearly suggest that Mr Oakeshott was not telling us all the facts...he wasn't an impartial advocate about whhich side to choose," he said.

"He had already asked to be a minister in a Labor government. He only told people half the facts about what was going through his mind".

Mr Joyce said there was shock and outrage in the rural electorates of Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott, whose joint support of Ms Gillard tipped Labor into government.