Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson accused the government of being in chaos and dysfunction, but Mr Corbell said the concerns were serious and unprecedented.

"I appreciate that people want to understand exactly what has occurred here, but the matters are still being investigated," Mr Corbell said. "They are investigated by an independent and professional police service.

"Let's allow them to do their work and lets see what the results of that are and then we we will have a very good idea and clarity around what has occurred here and why it has occurred.

"And at that time we time we can have a broader conversation about the circumstances of this most unfortunate matter."

Asked what he meant by "unprecedented", Mr Corbell said, "It is certainly unprecedented in my experience for there to be an investigation into the actions of a staff member employed by a minister for police."

Mr Corbell took over the police and emergency services portfolio from Ms Burch and said he had met chief police officer Rudi Lammers on Friday.

"The nature of that discussion was simply to indicate to him that my position as minister is that these are matters for the police to assess and determine the most appropriate course of action at arm's length from government.

"I have not sought any info from the chief police officer in relation to these matters. I have said to the chief police officer that it's is a matter for him as to when and if he believes he needs to brief me or the government on these issues."

Assistant Commissioner Lammers went to Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Tuesday to discuss concerns about Ms Burch's office, a briefing that resulted in the resignation of chief of staff Maria Hawthorne on Tuesday and a day later of Ms Burch herself as police minister. Ms Burch retains her other portfolios but is on leave.

While police and the government have consistently refused to say more about the allegation, Mr Barr insists it goes beyond what was said in a conversation between Ms Hawthorne and Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union ACT boss Dean Hall while the union was being investigated by the royal commission into trade unions, but does not involve any wrongdoing on the part of Ms Burch herself.

Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson called for clarity from Mr Barr.

"The question is this: is Joy Burch being investigated by police? We need to know and if so, what is the nature of that investigation, without going into detail obviously.

"If she isn't being investigated by police, then we need to know what led to her resignation. If it does relate to the ministerial code of conduct, then it does go to her other portfolios.

"It's chaos. It is chaos and dysfunction and confusion. We have Andrew Barr and other ministers ducking certain sections of the media and playing games. We have ministers saying nothing to see one day, then resigning the next," he said.

Mr Corbell said the allegations were serious but it was up to police to investigate in their own timeframe and disclose details when appropriate.

"Our police make these assessments independent, and at arm's length from the government of the day that is how it should be. And I am, as much as you are, simply not privy to all of these details. These are matters that the police will disclose as appropriate in due course."