Acting Federal Opposition Leader Penny Wong has called on the Prime Minister to explain the actions of a senior Cabinet minister who mistakenly sent an offensive text message to a journalist.

Key points: Dutton called journalist a "mad f***ing witch" in text intended for Briggs

Dutton called journalist a "mad f***ing witch" in text intended for Briggs Wong says Turnbull needs to justify Dutton's Cabinet position

Wong says Turnbull needs to justify Dutton's Cabinet position Journalist Samantha Maiden says she wasn't offended by remark

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton called The Sunday Telegraph's political editor Samantha Maiden a "mad f***ing witch" in a text message sent on Sunday.

It was allegedly meant for former minister Jamie Briggs, but was instead sent to Maiden herself.

Senator Wong described the incident as a test for Mr Turnbull and his leadership.

She stopped short of calling for Mr Dutton's resignation over the "boorish" text, instead saying Mr Turnbull needed to justify Mr Dutton's position as a Cabinet minister.

"He needs to explain to people why it is that Mr Dutton's behaviour and this sort of language is consistent with the standards that are expected of ministers," she said.

"Any woman knows what's meant by those words."

Mr Turnbull made a short statement on Monday afternoon regarding the text, saying the language used was "inappropriate".

"As I advised the Minister yesterday his language was clearly inappropriate as he recognised by apologising immediately to Ms Maiden," he said.

Federal Minister for Women Michaelia Cash also commented on the matter but did not directly criticise Mr Dutton, and acknowledged he made a quick apology.

She issued a reminder about the importance of respect towards women.

"As the Prime Minister has said, we should all critically examine our attitudes towards women. We must all reject a culture of disrespect, regardless of gender," Senator Cash said.

The incident follows the resignation of Mr Briggs after a late-night incident involving a female public servant in a Hong Kong bar during an official overseas visit last month.

He has since come under further fire for sharing an image of the staffer in question, which was later leaked to the media.

Senator Wong said Mr Briggs' resignation was appropriate, but questions remained over whether Mr Dutton's behaviour was consistent with ministerial standards.

"Malcolm Turnbull has spoken a lot about how he's different to Tony Abbott," she said.

"He's spoken appropriately about the importance of respecting women. He's spoken about the importance of stronger ministerial standards. He's got an opportunity today to explain to Australians how the behaviour of this Minister, who he picked, is consistent with the values that he's been articulating."

'I'm expecting a tough time in her next column': Dutton

Mr Dutton earlier confirmed he sent the text and said he apologised immediately for the mistake.

"Sam and I have exchanged some robust language over the years, so we had a laugh after this and I apologised to her straight away which she took in good faith," he said in a statement.

"I'm expecting a tough time in her next column!"

This morning Maiden said Mr Dutton should not be stripped of his ministry over the mistake.

She told the ABC she was not offended by the message, which she declined to label sexist.

"Certainly, he did call me a mad witch, that much is true," she said.

"I was more than happy to accept Peter Dutton's apology. As soon as he sent me that text saying 'Mate, she's a bit of a mad witch' I sent him a text saying 'Mate, you've sent the text to the mad witch'.

"Bit of a rookie error."

Sorry, this video has expired Samantha Maiden says she is happy to accept Peter Dutton's apology

Federal Cabinet Minister Simon Birmingham described the incident as "unfortunate".

But Mr Birmingham noted Mr Dutton's quick action, telling the ABC he prevented a potential "witch hunt" over the text.

"Peter obviously recognised that [it was unfortunate] and immediately contacted the journalist to apologise, taking that matter into his own hands, and of course, has come out and acknowledged that it was him," he said.

But fellow Labor senator Sam Dastyari described Mr Dutton's actions as "foolish and ridiculous".

Senator Dastyari told the ABC the Immigration Minister was a repeat offender in terms of using inappropriate language.

"This is also the same minister who doesn't realise that a boom mic's on; maybe we shouldn't expect any more from him," he said.

Senator Dastyari was referring to an incident last year where Mr Dutton was overheard by a television microphone making a quip about the plight of Pacific Island nations facing rising seas from climate change.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale also fiercely criticised Mr Dutton and said the Prime Minister should sack him from the frontbench.

"How many chances does Minister Dutton need?" Senator Di Natale said.

"Clearly, blunder after blunder puts him in a position where I think the Prime Minister needs to find a new home for Mr Dutton, and that would be preferably on the backbench."