DEFENCE Minister Stephen Smith has offered support for Tony Abbott over his "s--- happens" remark on the death of an Australian soldier in Afghanistan.

As the Seven Network comes under growing criticism over its story on the remark, made during Mr Abbott's visit to the troops last year, Mr Smith said he believed Mr Abbott had not intended to cause offence.

"I share the view that I don't believe that Tony Abbott would say anything that was flippant or insulting or critical about an Australian soldier, an Australian soldier's death or our contribution in Afghanistan. I share that view," Mr Smith told Sky News.

The Opposition Leader has denied making light of 22-year-old Lance-Cpl MacKinney's death.

The Labor minister said Mr Abbott's remarks were made in the context of a conversation in which he'd heard Australian soldiers were well supported in the battle where Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney died.

"People express themselves differently," Mr Smith said.

But Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said Mr Abbott's long silence under questioning by Seven journalist Mark Riley was an error of judgment.

"I thought it was extraordinary. I watched it live and I counted off the seconds. And I think people who look at the footage will draw their own conclusions about Tony Abbott," he told Sky News.

He said last night's television report, where Mr Abbott glowered in silence for 25 seconds , was "riveting television".

Speaking on television this morning, Riley defended his report amid criticism from senior Liberals and members of the public who said Mr Abbott had been unfairly ambushed.

"Is it tacky for me to report what Tony Abbott's said in the context of a battle in which a soldier has been killed? No, no I don't think it is," he said on the network's Sunrise program.

"This is the era of shining a light in politics, isn't it? And my job is to observe and report and analyse what political leaders say."

Riley said he was not responsible for how Mr Abbott responded when confronted with the video.

He rejected suggestion that the report was a grab for ratings.

"You know me, that's not my go," he said.

Televised confrontation 'belligerent'

But the father of a soldier killed in Afghanistan said he sympathised with Mr Abbott and said Channel 7 had been “belligerent”.

Felix Sher, whose son Gregory Sher was killed in 2009 in a rocket attack in Oruzgan Province, said he believed Mr Abbott's comments were taken out of context.

“I have to tell you I think Channel 7 are being belligerent,” Mr Sher said.

“I don’t believe that Tony Abbott would in any way be that cold, heartless and thoughtless.

“Maybe sometimes he needs to choose his words more carefully…but it really wasn’t offensive, it’s all a bit of a beat-up.”

Mr Sher hit out at Channel 7, and Riley, for airing the story.

“The fact they dug it up and made a story of it is simply a case of them having a go at him. Journos have to be more sensitive. I think it was a futile thing to do.”

While Mr Sher said Mr Abbott could be softer in his approach, he said he was confident that he had been misrepresented by Channel 7.

“What Mr Abbott might have been trying to do is not give the enemy the satisfaction of thinking that we’re soft.

“Look at his face in that video clip, let me tell you, he’s not a happy man. You can see on his face that he’s hurt.”

Mr Sher, who has previously been critical of Mr Abbott’s treatment of Diggers, said in this case he had done nothing wrong.

Mr Abbott said this morning it was time to move on from his comments out of respect to the soldier's widow.

"Subsequent to the broadcast last night I had a conversation with Mrs Becky MacKinney and she subsequently put out a statement and I just think the matter should rest there out of respect to her,'' Mr Abbott told Macquarie Radio today.

"Out of respect to Becky MacKinney I think we should all move on."

It was "an unfortunate incident", Mr Abbott added.

Comments made dad 'feel sick'

Lance-Cpl MacKinney's widow Beckie said she accepted Mr Abbott's explanation.

"Tony and I spoke at length and I fully accept that he was quoted out of context in the television news,'' Ms MacKinney said in a statement.

"As far as we, Jared's family, are concerned there is no issue, the matter is over, and we will be making no further comment.''

Mr Abbott phoned Beckie MacKinney last night in readiness to apologise if she was upset.

"No one sacrifices more for our country than a soldier's widow," he said afterwards.

"It was an honour to speak with her again. I thoroughly discussed the Channel 7 report with her and don't believe that there are any issues between us. That's where this matter should now rest."

However, Lance-Cpl MacKinney's father Ian said the Opposition Leader's comments were out of line and made him feel sick.

"My attitude would be to ignore it, to give it the least amount of credence,'' he told Fairfax.

"It just shows how good he is or isn't. I'm not going to let it bother me but it just shows he's not very thoughtful. He doesn't care too much."

Liberals rally to Abbott's defence

Seven earlier screened footage, released under Freedom of Information, of Mr Abbott's visit to Afghanistan last year.

US commander James Creighton was seen explaining the array of artillery available to support troops.

Mr Abbott was then seen saying: "It's pretty obvious that, well, sometimes s--- happens, doesn't it?"

Shown the footage by Seven's Mark Riley yesterday, Mr Abbott replied: "Look, you've taken this out of context. You weren't there. I would never seek to make light of the death of an Australian soldier."

Asked why he believed his comments were taken out of context, Mr Abbott refused to answer for 25 seconds.

"I've given you the response you deserve," he said.

Shadow finance minister Andrew Robb said Mr Abbott had been subjected to a "desperately low act" and a "pathetic ambush".

"Tony Abbott is a thoroughly decent man and would never, ever say anything disparaging of the men and women of our ADF," he said.

"It was a desperately low act,'' Mr Robb told ABC Radio today.

Mr Robb said it was his understanding that Channel Seven had the footage of Mr Abbott's remarks ``for some time'' and that the broadcaster waited to air the footage on the day federal parliament paid tribute to the latest Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.

"It was a set-up, it was an ambush, it was totally inappropriate" he said.

"I think Tony Abbott deserves an apology."

Mr Abbott last night said: "The material was used out of context. It clearly did not bear the interpretation that Channel 7 placed on it. Channel 7 should not be revisiting a soldier's death to create a media circus."

- Michael Harvey, Shannon Deery, Jay Savage, Joe Kelly, Ben Packham, AAP

Originally published as Minister defends tongue-tied Abbott