Senior Liberal Steve Ciobo is refusing to back away from comments he made to an acquitted terrorism suspect, labelling the man a "sick individual".
Mr Ciobo told Zaky Mallah during ABC TV's Q&A program on Monday night that despite the 30 year-old's acquittal on terror charges in 2005, he'd be pleased to be "part of a government that would say you're out of the country".
He defended his comments on Tuesday, saying dual citizens engaged in terrorist activities in Australia should be deported.
Subsequent tweets by Mr Mallah demonstrated he was a "sick individual", Mr Ciobo said.
"He tweeted subsequently that he would like to pay money ... to have me kidnapped and taken to Iraq," Mr Ciobo told Sky News.
Mr Mallah's tweet shortly after the program said: "I would pay to see that minister dumped on ISIS territory in Iraq!"
Mr Ciobo said it was "extraordinary" that audience members on the program had applauded Mr Mallah's comments.
Mr Mallah was acquitted in 2005 on terror charges after allegedly threatening to carry out a suicide attack on federal government offices in Sydney.
But he was jailed for almost two years after pleading guilty to threatening ASIO or department of foreign affairs workers, and had his term extended after assaulting a prison officer.
The sentencing judge described him as a loner who craved media attention.
He admonished the media for encouraging him by giving Mr Mallah undeserved and unnecessary exposure.
The ABC on Tuesday admitted it should never have allowed Mr Mallah to appear live on the program.
"In attempting to explore important issues about the rights of citizens and the role of the government in fighting terrorism, the Q&A program made an error in judgment in allowing Zaky Mallah to join the audience and ask a question," the ABC said in a statement.
Mr Mallah, who in 2003 was the first man in NSW charged under then new anti-terrorism laws, had asked the panel about plans by the Abbott government to strip dual nationals of their Australian citizenship if they were involved with terrorist groups.
Mr Ciobo told the man he was only acquitted because the laws weren't retrospective, and that he'd "sleep very soundly" having him deported.
He was then accused by Mr Mallah of giving Australian Muslims justification to join Islamic State militants.
