

A senior adviser to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was warned that Barnaby Joyce had allegedly misbehaved at an awards night, according to a series of text messages seen by Fairfax Media.

The text message warnings came from John Clements, a former chief adviser to Tony Windsor, the former independent MP and Mr Joyce's political enemy.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce in Question Time on Monday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

They were sent on December 30, 2015, to Sally Cray, who serves as Mr Turnbull's principal private secretary.

Fairfax Media has been told the "Qld senator" referred to in the text exchange was Mr Joyce. Fairfax Media also understands the texts related to alleged misconduct at a 2011 Rural Women's Award dinner.