A legacy project of former prime minister Tony Abbott - an exhaustive official history of Australia's military operations in East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq – is in danger of collapse amid claims that bureaucrats are trying to censor its first volume.

The history of Australia's peacekeeping operations in East Timor was expected to be published two months ago but has been stymied by what sources described as unprecedented resistance from the government, especially Marise Payne's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Then prime minister John Howard farewells Australian soldiers heading to East Timor in September 1999. Credit:AP

The Australian War Memorial's official historian Craig Stockings – who is the lead author on the East Timor volume – is said to be "very frustrated" by the delays and major changes demanded by bureaucrats, and threatening to resign.

While it is routine for government departments to provide feedback on publications such as this, a senior figure with direct knowledge of the project said DFAT's objections were "beyond the pale".