Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has warned Tony Abbott he's risking bipartisanship on anti-terrorism laws if the prime minister insists on politicising the issue.
Mr Shorten has written to the prime minister about parliament's consideration of laws that would require telcos to keep customer data for two years.
"I am disappointed that recent media briefing has sought to politicise the development and considerations of anti-terrorism legislation," Mr Shorten wrote in the letter dated February 9.
"This is at odds with a responsible and bipartisan approach to such important issues."
He says a security briefing the opposition was given in January failed to cover the role metadata and related telecommunications information played in the Sydney cafe siege and the French attack on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
"Nor were the opposition provided with the `case studies' your office has distributed to the media," Mr Shorten wrote.
In parliament last week, after Mr Shorten sent his letter, Mr Abbott sought to link Labor's immigration laws with the arrival of two terrorism suspects arrested on Tuesday.
Mr Shorten says the opposition supports quick consideration of the data retention laws, once a parliamentary committee has finished its investigation of the bill.
However, he stops short of confirming Labor's support and notes the committee has heard of significant concerns.
These include cost to telcos and the public and implications for press freedom.
Mr Abbott intends to make a statement to parliament next Monday about new counter-terrorism measures.
He wants the data retention laws passed by March 19.
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