A federal government minister says he "behaved like an idiot" and has apologised to a female defence officer who reportedly formally complained about his behaviour.
The RAAF member lodged a complaint about Assistant Minister for Roads and Transport Scott Buchholz's conduct, the ABC reported on Thursday.
"I behaved like an idiot on a parliamentary exchange last year and I recognise how inappropriate my actions were," the minister said.
"I apologised for my conduct and the offence I caused, and I reiterate my deep respect for the ADF and its members."
The nature of the complaint is unknown but the incident is understood to have occurred in August last year in Darwin, before Mr Buchholz was promoted to the frontbench by the prime minister.
The Department of Defence is reportedly satisfied with an apology Mr Buchholz made to the department.
