Scott Morrison has called Labor senator Sue Lines a "muppet" who should leave the debate over national security "to the adults" after she accused the government of scaremongering.
The minister was speaking on ABC this morning about the government's increased security at Australian airports amid reports of growing numbers of Australians travellling to fight in Syria and Iraq.
Mr Morrison said 80 additional officers had been placed at airports and more would follow.
He rejected concerns that Muslim Australians would be the victims of profiling under the new measures.
"We have an engagement with the Islamic communities…they are not the targets of this," he said. "I believe they are the beneficiaries of it and they are the partners in this to ensure that all Australians are safe."
He said accusations made by Labor Senator Sue Lines that the government was using the conflict in Iraq to deflect from an unpopular budget was "pathetic".
"I'm very disappointed with Senator Lines' comments and frankly Bill Shorten should call her into line over this," he said.
"If she doesn't believe the IS involvement in Iraq and Syria presents a genuine and real threat to Australia than she's a muppet."
Ms Lines was this week critical of Tony Abbott's "team Australia" rhetoric and said the government's focus on home-grown terrorism had an agenda.
"[The prime minister] is just using this as a shield to try and deflect from the awful mess they're in with their budget," she told Fairfax Media.
"This is just the government dead keen to get out there and try and improve its ratings with the Australian public."
But speaking today on the ABC, Mr Morrison said the comments were "ridiculous".
"She should be hurled on the line by her leader and return the debate to the adults," he said.
On the question of whether Australia would be engaged in another conflict in Iraq he said the government was acting cautiously and carefully with its partners.
"We are engaging in the various potential responses that can be provided," he said.
"But it's Australia’s national interest that will determine the judgments that are made."
