The prime minister has told the ABC's Q&A program that Senator Arbib won't be available for Monday night's show because he should be focused on "discussing Labor's positive plan for the nation's future".
The program's executive producer, Peter McEvoy, responded by stating Senator Arbib would "be represented by an empty chair at the Q&A desk".
Senator Arbib, who helped organise the numbers against Kevin Rudd in favour of Ms Gillard in June, has copped a hammering since Saturday's poor poll result.
Labor has lost its majority in the lower house and will only be able to retain government if it can woo crucial crossbench MPs.
In a thinly-veiled swipe at both Senator Arbib and ALP national secretary Karl Bitar, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh on Monday said she wouldn't "let the NSW disease that sees leadership as a revolving door undermine a democratic mandate in Queensland".
Former NSW Labor premier Morris Iemma said Senator Arbib and Mr Bitar should "pack up and go home".
In a statement to the ABC on Monday night, Ms Gillard said "this is not the time for campaign analysis".
"The focus of Labor's ministerial team must be on providing stable and effective government and discussing Labor's positive plan for the nation's future," she said.
"Consequently, I have requested and Senator Arbib has agreed to not appear on Q&A tonight which is focused solely on campaign analysis."
Instead, she offered up western Sydney backbencher David Bradbury.
But Mr McEvoy said allowing Ms Gillard to choose a substitute panel member "would be a clear breach of the ABC's editorial independence".
"We're dismayed that Mr Arbib will be prevented from answering the questions of the Q&A audience on the significant issues raised by Saturday's election," he said in a statement.
"Contrary to the comment you released, tonight's Q&A will not focus solely on campaign analysis.
"We expect a significant part of the discussion will be on the nation's future."
Senator Arbib's spokeswoman offered a firm "no comment" when asked about his late scratching.
