Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull accurately reflected the mood of the federal Cabinet when he rejected Kevin Rudd's bid to lead the United Nations, according to deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce.

Seeking to "make [it] clear" the decision was not a so-called captain's call, Mr Joyce suggested a majority of his Cabinet colleagues were in favour of denying Mr Rudd the nomination for UN Secretary-General.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in the cabinet meeting that ultimately ended Kevin Rudd's bid to become UN chief. Credit:Andrew Meares

"I've seen some reports that this was a captain's pick, it was not. It was a decision of Cabinet," the Nationals leader told the ABC. "I don't think it's giving too much away to say it was a majority."

If accurate, Mr Joyce's assessment would mean Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was among a minority of Cabinet ministers who supported nominating Mr Rudd for the very senior position.