Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has publicly rebuked beleaguered Labor MP Belinda Neal for her refusal to be interviewed by police over the fiery backbencher's fracas with the staff of a nightclub.
And NSW Premier Morris Iemma has ordered her husband, John Della Bosca, to allow a police interview.
In the clearest sign yet that Mr Rudd will have no hesitation in dropping Ms Neal from his team, the Prime Minister indicated Ms Neal had not been faithful to her pledge to Parliament over the Iguana Joe's bar affair.
A spokesman for Mr Rudd said last night, ''The Prime Minister expects the Member for Robertson to uphold her undertaking to Parliament on June 18 that she would fully cooperate with the police investigation into this matter.''
His warning came after Ms Neal and her husband, the stood-aside NSW Education Minister John Della Bosca, declined to be interviewed by police over the incident on the Friday night of the Queen's Birthday long weekend.
The NSW Labor right-wing power couple are alleged to have threatened and abused staff at the Gosford nightclub and Ms Neal has been accused of doctoring her staff's statutory declarations about the incident.
Both charges carry jail sentences and a conviction would force Ms Neal's disqualification from Parliament and a by-election the Government would be almost certain to lose.
Mr Iemma said last night he had spoken to Mr Della Bosca and expected him to take part in a police interview.
''This is essential to satisfy the commitment Mr Della Bosca gave to me and to the public of NSW that he would cooperate fully with investigators.
''As a result of our conversation, Mr Della Bosca said he would undertake an interview with NSW Police at their earliest convenience. I expect this commitment to be honoured, and that cooperation be provided for the duration of the investigation.''
Ms Neal scraped into the seat last November by 184 preference votes, having finished substantially behind the sitting Liberal MP on the primary count.
Mr Rudd's spokesman conveyed the Prime Minister's continuing fury at the intransigence of Ms Neal, who has only stood aside, rather than resigned, from her $14,000-a-year job chairing the House of Representatives Communications Committee.
''The Prime Minister has previously stated that if anybody breaks the law then the consequences are severe. The Prime Minister has also said that no one is guaranteed of a future in politics.''
The police report, and the decision whether to prefer charges, are expected to be made public by week's end.
NSW Police said Ms Neal and Mr Della Bosca had submitted written statements on the matter.
Police are investigating the conflicting statutory declarations of bar staff and the politicians' staff members.
The police said, ''A number of people, including a state Member of Parliament and a federal Member of Parliament, have exercised their legal right not to be interviewed. Investigators have received written statements from both the state MP and federal MP.''
Another five people had declined to be interviewed, according to the police statement.
Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson condemned the Labor couple's refusal to submit to interviews. ''If Mr Rudd is able to send Ms Neal to counselling [for alleged aggression against bar staff], why can't he prompt her to talk to the police or leave his Government?'' Dr Nelson asked.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the investigation would be concluded shortly.