Independent MP Rob Oakeshott has turned down an offer to be a minister in the Gillard government.
The NSW MP, who allowed Labor to form a minority government when he sided with them earlier this week, said he had declined the offer of minister of regional affairs, a new position on the frontbench.
Mr Oakeshott said he made the decision after talking with family and friends, fearing he would bring too much "political heat" to the position.
He also confirmed that the Coalition had also offered him a frontbench position during negotiations after the August 21 election.
"I have a very strong view that independent MPs have an important role to play, not only on the floor of the parliament but also where, possible the executive," he said.
"No one political party should own any level of that."
Mr Oakeshott has been attacked on another front, following a report in The Australian newspaper that he approached former NSW Labor premier Morris Iemma in 2007 about a ministry when he was a state MP.
Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce said the report showed Mr Oakeshott was not "an impartial discerner" when he considered which side to back in a minority government.
"This would clearly suggest that Mr Oakeshott was not telling us all the facts when he was going through his deliberations," Senator Joyce told Sky News.
"It stands to reason he would probably ask to be a minister in a Labor government again."
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