There was "never a deal" with Senator David Leyonhjelm to water down gun legislation in return for his vote in the Upper House, according to former prime minister Tony Abbott.
"As far as I was concerned as prime minister there was absolutely no way on God's earth with a heightened terror threat we were going to allow perhaps tens of thousands of rapid fire guns into the country," Mr Abbott said.
Giving a rare doorstop to journalists in Canberra on Wednesday Mr Abbott said the Turnbull government should do whatever it needs to do ensure rapid fire guns are made unavailable in Australia.
"No one needs a rapid fire gun other than perhaps our law enforcement agencies, the military and just possibly people involved in serious pest extermination."
The Abbott government temporarily suspended the importation of the Adler lever-action shotgun last year until July 2016, however, the ban was extended under Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
"There never was a deal" - Former prime minister Tony Abbott
The Liberal Democrat's David Leyonhjelm is accusing the government of breaking a promise, alleging it agreed to trade his vote in the Senate for a lift on the shotgun ban.
"He's now saying that the so called deal was abandoned, as far as I can work out there never was a deal," Mr Abbott said.
In the precarious 45th parliament the Turnbull government needs to work closely with Senator Leyonhjelm if it wants to pass legislation, in particular a bill to restore the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
"Until this is solved my relationship with the government is going to be difficult," Senator Leyonhjelm said.
The opposition has accused Prime Minister Turnbull of being prepared to trade guns for votes in the parliament, however, he has since ruled out the prospect and said there was "no chance" his government would weaken gun laws.
It was a position he reinforced to reporters in a one question doorstop on Wednesday.
"As I've stated on many occasions is that the import ban on lever action shotguns with more than five rounds will remain in place," Prime Minister Turnbull said.
There's a push for the seven-shot version of the Adler lever-action shotgun to be reclassified so the weapons can be imported to Australia.
But he's now under pressure by select members of the Coalition to change his stance.
Victorian Nationals Senator, and gun enthusiast, Bridget McKenzie said the "emotion" should be taken out of the gun debate.
"I'd call on states and territories right across the country to actually look at the evidence," Ms McKenzie said.
National police and justice ministers will be meeting in Melbourne on Friday to discuss the National Firearms Agreement.
The federal government recently announced it would introduce tougher gun trafficking laws, including mandatory jail terms for people caught dealing and trading weapons.
Prime Minister Turnbull has written to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten urging Labor to support the legislation.
