A Labor backbencher has apologised for photographing a man who threatened to torch himself and for selling the photographs to the media.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd reportedly ''monstered'' the Member for Dawson, James Bidgood, after hearing that he passed on the images to a tabloid newspaper. Mr Bidgood later said he asked the paper to donate to a disability charity in exchange for the photographs.
A spokesman for Mr Rudd said the Prime Minister believed Mr Bidgood's actions were ''deeply offensive'' and had demanded he apologise.
Mr Bidgood apologised in Parliament last night. ''My actions were highly insensitive and inappropriate and I am tonight writing a letter of apology to the family involved. I deeply regret my actions and I apologise once again for any offence I have caused.''
Liberal frontbencher Joe Hockey described Mr Bidgood's actions as outrageous.
''Why was he taking a photo? It doesn't matter what his story is, he's a Member of Parliament and it's not appropriate,'' he said.
He questioned whether Mr Bidgood had ''abused the entitlements of his office as a Member of Parliament or if there is any other conduct totally unbecoming of a Member of this Parliament in relation to this tasteless matter''.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Harry Jenkins, said the incident was a reminder that the lower house might need a code of conduct. He said he would consider whether he had the power to investigate the incident, and would report back to the House.
Mr Bidgood has now embarrassed the Government twice in just over a fortnight.
He handed ammunition to the Opposition last month when he ''misspoke'' over the alleged leak of a conversation between Mr Rudd and United States President George W.Bush.
He said at the time, ''There is no question that Kevin Rudd was indiscreet'' before later correcting himself.
The man who poured petrol on himself and threatened to burn himself alive, Marat Aminov, was talked out of it by police.
On Monday, he jumped from the House of Representatives public gallery into the chamber, saying he was protesting against his parents' failure to secure permanent resident visas. He was taken to Canberra Hospital after the incident, where he was detained.
On Tuesday, his father, Samil Aminov, allegedly became violent at the hospital when he and his wife, Alija, tried to secure their son's release from the psychiatric unit.
A scuffle broke out and a female nurse was allegedly struck when security guards tried to remove the Aminovs from the hospital late on Monday evening.
Samil Aminov, who allegedly had to be restrained after attempting to cut his wrists while in police custody, was held in the City Watch-House and charged with common assault.
The ACT Magistrates Court adjourned the matter until today so a Russian-speaking interpreter could be found.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans told the Senate yesterday that Marat Aminov was a permanent resident and his parents' case was being assessed by the Immigration Department.
He stressed that no members of the family were in danger of being deported.