Government tight lipped about spy incident

The federal government is aware of allegations that a special forces soldier pulled a gun on an Australian spy during a drinking session but is leaving the investigation to the intelligence watchdog.

The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security has revealed a "serious incident" occurred in December last year involving an Australian spy and a weapon, indicating alcohol was also involved.

The ABC reports the incident involved a special forces officer drawing a loaded handgun on a covert agent while they were drinking in Afghanistan.

In its annual report the inspector general said the Australian Secret Intelligence Service did not have adequate controls to ensure an agent wouldn't be carrying a weapon under the influence of alcohol.

The federal government is remaining tight-lipped as the independent watchdog carries out its investigation.

Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert said the government took such allegations seriously but they were yet to be confirmed.

"The fact that an investigation may be occurring is not indicative of an event or indeed something that may have happened," he told the ABC radio on Tuesday.

He could not confirm when the inspector general would finish its investigation, or whether the findings would be made public.