Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm says it's inconceivable Tony Abbott's office didn't know about a supposed deal two of his ministers made with the senator over gun laws.
The former prime minister denies his government made an agreement to insert a 12 month sunset clause on the importation of Adler lever-action shotgund, telling the ABC's 730 program: "No deals from me. No deals from my office. No deal".
Senator Leyonhjelm admits he didn't speak to Mr Abbott or his office about the matter, but told ABC radio on Thursday: "It's inconceivable that his office wouldn't have known about it".
Tony Abbott says his government 'stopped the guns' Senator David Leyonhjelm claims the government agreed to trade his vote in the Senate for a lift on a shotgun ban.
Key crossbench senator David Leyonhjelm claims the Abbott government made an agreement with his office to insert a sunset clause of 12 months on the importation of the Adler lever-action shotgun.
But the former prime minister Tony Abbott says every piece of legislation has a sunset clause and letters purporting such a deal was about telling Senator Leyonhjelm what was happening anyway.
"No deals from me. No deals from my office. No deal," he told ABC's 730 program on Wednesday.
These guns were stopped because of his government, he said.
"But for the Abbott government we would now have tens of thousands of these weapons in this country," Mr Abbott said.
"The Abbott government stopped them."
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.
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.
With AAP
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