Liberal frontbencher Andrew Robb says the Seven Network should apologise to Tony Abbott, claiming the broadcaster ambushed the federal opposition leader over the "s... happens" remarks he made about the death of an Australian soldier in Afghanistan.
"It was a desperately low act," Mr Robb told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
Mr Robb said it was his understanding that Channel Seven had the footage of Mr Abbott's remarks "for some time" and that the broadcaster waited to air the footage on the day federal parliament paid tribute to the latest Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
"It was a set-up, it was an ambush, it was totally inappropriate" he said.
"I think Tony Abbott deserves an apology."
Mr Robb defended his leader's use of "the vernacular" during a conversation with military personnel during a visit to Afghanistan in October.
While with soldiers in Afghanistan, Mr Abbott said "shit happens" when told that no single factor was to blame for the death of Jared MacKinney.
"It was a battlefield with a bunch of men standing around discussing the death of an Australian colleague," Mr Robb said.
"It was a genuine attempt, you could tell, to console these gentlemen."
Mr Abbott's comments were a very human reaction to an unavoidable tragedy, Mr Robb said.
"It was a serious attempt in the vernacular ... saying to them in a way to console them, these things happen and don't beat yourselves up."
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