Former MP Craig Thomson could be subjected to yet more scrutiny of his behaviour - but only if Labor agrees.
Thomson, 49, has been found guilty of dozens of dishonesty offences over the use of his credit cards to make cash withdrawals, pay for prostitutes and cigarettes and cover some of his former wife's travel expenses.
Leader of government business Christopher Pyne says Labor should support a move to get the powerful privileges committee to investigate whether Thomson deliberately lied to parliament in repeatedly proclaiming his innocence.
"If (Opposition Leader Bill Shorten) is prepared to give bipartisan support to that, we'll consider moving that motion," Mr Pyne told reporters in Adelaide on Wednesday.
"But if he's not going to, if he's going to continue to protect Craig Thomson, we're not going to allow this to become a partisan issue."
If Thomson were found in contempt of parliament, the House of Representatives has powers to punish him with possible penalties including a fine of up to $5000, up to six months in jail, or a reprimand.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie says it appeared Thomson had misled parliament.
He would support any effort by the government to have the former MP brought to Canberra to explain himself and probably also any sanctions parliament wanted to impose.
Mr Pyne also repeated calls for Mr Shorten to apologise on behalf of Labor "for the protection racket that was run around Craig Thomson".
Mr Shorten later dodged questions about whether Labor would support referring Thomson to the committee.
"It is most important that whatever the privileges committee does that the processes are not politicised for some perceived short-term gain," he told reporters in Melbourne.
