Labor seeks to condemn PM over gun vote

Parliament is debating whether to condemn the prime minister over his lack of action against three ministers who failed to support a ban on importing shotguns.

Labor has sought to condemn the prime minister in parliament for not acting against three ministers who abstained from a vote in support of a shotgun import ban.

Nationals frontbenchers Nigel Scullion, Matt Canavan and Fiona Nash did not front up to a vote on Monday night in support of the government's ban on the import of the seven-shot Adler shotgun.

Labor leader Bill Shorten moved a motion on Tuesday condemning Malcolm Turnbull for not enforcing cabinet solidarity, which is set out in the official handbook for ministers.

The government used its numbers to gag Mr Shorten ad defeat the motion.