Labor condemns PM on national security

Labor wants parliament to condemn Prime Minister Tony Abbott for allowing his foreign minister and attorney-general to mislead parliament over "serious and legitimate" national security questions.

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus has moved a motion in the lower house accusing Julie Bishop and George Brandis of dishonesty and breaching ministerial standards by failing to correct the record on national security issues and ensuring public safety.

"Time and again, this government has shown itself addicted to cover up and secrecy," he said.

The motion was later defeated.