Latika Bourke National political reporter October 27, 2014

Labor has pursued Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce in question time after the Nationals MP was caught out correcting an answer he gave to Parliament that exaggerated the number of farmers receiving drought assistance.

The opposition tried to suspend regular proceedings to censure the minister for trying to "improperly alter" Hansard and "misleading the house".  But Labor's attempt to admonish Mr Joyce failed when the government used its numbers to shut down Labor's motion.

But ultimately Mr Joyce sought to undo the changes and blamed a staff member for the "minor edits".

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce in discussion. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

While minor amendments to Hansard that don't affect the substance of what was said are usual, substantive changes without a formal correction of the record are considered a no-no by MPs as Hansard is meant to show the true record of what is said in the Chamber.

The incident arose when Labor's agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon asked Mr Joyce last week in Parliament how many farming families have received drought assistance under the government's package announced eight months ago.

Mr Joyce initially told Parliament on Monday last week that "over 4000 applications have been approved for the farm household allowance, but on Wednesday Hansard was corrected so that his comments said "nearly 4000".

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce consults with leader of the house Christopher Pyne and Prime Minister Tony Abbott during question time on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares

"We are happy with the fact that over 4000 applications have been through and you actually get the money until the department decides that you are not allowed to get the money," Mr Joyce told the House last Monday.

"It is not the case that you apply for the money and then you have to wait for your application to be approved."

But when amending his answer, Mr Joyce also inserted the disclaimers "unless it is a new application," and "if you were also a recipient of the Interim Farm Household Allowance".

In question time on Monday, a week after the initial incorrect statement, Mr Fitzgibbon again questioned the Agriculture Minister. 

"Does the minister acknowledged that he never used these words and what role did he or his office play in doctoring the Hansard record?" Mr Fitzgibbon asked.

Speaker Bronwyn Bishop ordered the Labor MP "rephrase" his question so that it did not contain "serious allegation".

Mr Joyce said 4957 applications had been received and 4098 granted. He insisted "this is exactly the same as what we said when we came into the Chamber and proceeded to give exactly the numbers that were given to us at 3.30 that day."

But after a second Labor question conceded that after giving his initial answer "amongst the barrage of noise that was coming" his office "went about and found the information that actually doesn't come from my department, it comes from the Department of Human Services, and when we had that information it was precisely as we delivered," the minister said.

Late Monday, the Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce sought to have his changes struck out and blamed his staff for the error.

"On the 20th October, 2014, I understand a request for minor edits was made to Hansard by my staff without my knowledge," Mr Joyce told Parliament.

"My staff have been counselled," he reassured MPs.

Barnaby Joyce has Hansard changed back after being caught out over correction