Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has been grilled over his history of donations from mining magnate Gina Rinehart, asked what he is expected to provide in return and to explain how it is different to the Sam Dastyari's expenses saga.

At the end of a second day of intense pressure on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, the Nationals leader was questioned repeatedly about the $50,000 donated by Mrs Rinehart to his 2013 election campaign, but he insisted it was different to the donations to Senator Dastyari because it was "arm's length" and "auditable".

'What do you think that you have to give her in response? Is it access? Why does she give that money? What does she expect?' Leigh Sales asked on the ABC's 7.30 program.

"The donations made to a political party – and in this instance you're talking about Hancock's donation to a political party – did not go to me. The money goes to a political campaign, goes to a political party. It's auditable," Mr Joyce responded.