Tensions have surfaced between NSW's coalition partners after the state's Nationals leader said he wanted to shoot a federal Liberal MP.
NSW Nationals Leader Andrew Stoner said federal Liberal MP Alby Schultz should be blindfolded and shot at dawn, accusing him of treachery for campaigning against the Nationals candidate in Saturday's state by-election in Port Macquarie.
The Nationals lost the northern NSW seat to independent Peter Besseling, despite a 22 per cent swing to the minor coalition partner. The Liberals did not run a candidate.
Mr Stoner has been vocal in his anger at Mr Schultz, who even posed in a T-shirt promoting Mr Besseling for the local newspaper in the week leading up to the poll.
A furious Mr Stoner on Wednesday called Mr Schultz an "idiot", saying his actions didn't help either coalition party.
"If I had my way, I'd march him out at dawn, put a blindfold on him and shoot him," he told reporters when asked what he'd like done with Mr Schultz.
After a swift rebuke from NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell, Mr Stoner fronted the media two hours later, stressing his comment was a joke and a throw-away line.
"Am I seriously going to march someone out at dawn and then shoot them? That's rubbish ... but I think anyone that knows me knows I'm not into guns. I'm not into killing people," he said.
Mr Schultz failed to see the humour in the comments, saying they were of a kind that incited violence in the community.
He asked federal parliament to investigate the comments and said they cast doubt on Mr Stoner's sanity.
"One would have to question the soundness of mind of somebody who puts that sort of statement into the general community which has seen acts of violence with firearms which have killed children, killed men and women," he told reporters in Canberra.
Asked if he would accept Mr Stoner's apology, Mr Schultz said: "No, I don't under those circumstances."
He said it was up to Mr Stoner if he wanted to resign over the comments.
"If he's got any decency about him and he's got any conscience within himself he should think very, very seriously about what he said, and the impact of what he has said out there in the community," Mr Schultz said.
"I certainly think he should apologise to victims of crime."
Mr Stoner also announced Andrew Fraser had been dumped as the state party's deputy leader to make way for Murrumbidgee MP Adrian Piccoli.
The change of deputy came after Mr Stoner called a leadership spill following the party's failure to win the Port Macquarie by-election.
He was not challenged for the leadership.
Mr Fraser said he was disappointed but would continue to represent his electorate of Coffs Harbour.
"However, labels and titles come and go," he said in a statement.
"It's not the title that counts, it's what you do for those you represent."