FEDERAL Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has pulled out of an appearance on the ABC's Q&A program after the Prime Minister ordered frontbenchers boycott the show, a spokesman says.

Mr Joyce was scheduled to appear on the program tonight but notified the show's producers late yesterday that he would not be appearing.

A spokesman for Mr Joyce said he pulled out of the program after Tony Abbott decided no frontbencher would be allowed to take part.

Q&A was embroiled in controversy after a program last month included Sydney man Zaky Mallah in the live audience and allowed him to ask a question.

Previously, Mr Mallah pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a Commonwealth official.

Read more at ABC News Online