Labor MP David Smith has labelled reports the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has tried to stymie the publication of the official history of the East Timor conflict "deeply concerning".
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Mr Smith represents Canberra's southern suburbs in the electorate of Bean, named after Australia's first war correspondent Charles Bean.
He says Bean "would be appalled by the alleged censorship of the current war historian".
It's been reported that the publication of the official history of Australia's involvement in East Timor has been delayed because bureaucrats in the department are concerned about the potential reaction from Indonesia to the chapters discussing the lead up to the conflict.
Three former war historians have written to Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne to urge her intervention to ensure the book is published without censorship and now the member for Bean has also written to the minister.
"Part of the goal of good history is nor just providing an account of what happened but providing lessons for the future," Mr Smith said.
A spokesman for the minister has previously said it would be inappropriate for the minister to intervene while the process for publishing is still being completed.
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In another call for transparency, Mr Smith said it was sad to see the National Archives of Australia spend a large part of its budget in an attempt to prevent the so-called "Palace letters" from being published.
Historian Jenny Hocking is fighting for letters between Buckingham Palace and then governor-general Sir John Kerr written in the lead up to the dismissal of Gough Whitlam to be published.
The case is now before the High Court, after Professor Hocking was granted leave to appeal the decision.
"We have to let the case run its course," Mr Smith said, pointing out the National Archives was also part of the legacy of Charles Bean.
"We know there's an attempt to resist a critical part of our history being told."
Mr Smith said he believed the archives was under political pressure not to release the documents.
"It's hard to believe they're not under some sort of political direction from a government that's doing its best to prevent us from knowing much about the actions of parliaments both present and past."
Sally Whyte
I report on a range of issues in federal politics and the public service, with a real passion for how decisions made in Canberra affect the lives of Australians.
I report on a range of issues in federal politics and the public service, with a real passion for how decisions made in Canberra affect the lives of Australians.
