Opposition Leader Bill Shorten needs to show some authority and make a senior frontbencher apologise for his verbal "attack" on a military general during a Senate hearing, the government says.
Opposition defence spokesman Stephen Conroy was forced to withdraw comments he made on Tuesday, accusing Operation Sovereign Borders commander Lieutenant-General Angus Campbell of a political cover-up and comparing him to corrupt fictional film character, Colonel Jessup.
Now Defence Minister David Johnston wants Senator Conroy to say sorry to General Campbell too.
"I will not as defence minister tolerate an attack upon the integrity of one of Australia's most respected senior officers," Mr Johnston told reporters.
General Campbell was a professional performing a difficult task and Senator Conroy's comments were cowardly and defamatory, and Mr Shorten must act, the minister said.
"Now let's see some leadership," Mr Johnston said of Mr Shorten, stopping short of calling for Senator Conroy to be stripped of his portfolio.
"If no apology, I think it highlights the fact that the leader has no sense of discipline and propriety."
Senator Conroy's outburst came after he quizzed General Campbell about Australian SAS activities in Iraq during the first Gulf War.
Senator Conroy said he could understand the need for operation secrecy when troops are operating behind enemy lines but not the secrecy surrounding Australia's operation to turn back asylum seeker boats.
"But what I'm intrigued by, (is) why stopping a number of wooden boats has the same level of secrecy requirements," he said.
General Campbell responded by saying potential damage to bilateral and regional relationships was the reason for withholding information.
"Can't we handle the truth?" Senator Conroy asked the general repeatedly, in comments echoing dialogue from Hollywood military film, A Few Good Men.
"You're engaged in a political cover up", he said.
General Campbell took "extreme offence" at the remark.
Mr Johnston said General Campbell handled himself well in the hearing, which was suspended until Senator Conroy withdrew his remarks.
