Daniel Andrews' Government is in damage control with claims a butter knife was pulled in a confrontation between a minister and Labor factional boss in the parliament's dining room.

Parliamentary authorities will investigate the heated exchange between the Sports Minister John Eren and former minister Adem Somyurek in the members-only restaurant last night.

Sources close to Mr Eren said the minister felt intimidated when Mr Somyurek picked up a butter knife from the table, but Mr Somyurek denied threatening anyone during their "robust" discussion.

Butter knife threat denied

"I made a comment to Mr Eren in the bar about internal party matters and returned to the dining room, where I was having dinner with colleagues, including the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor & Local Government," Mr Somyurek said in a statement.

"I proceeded to return to the dining room for dinner. I was surprised when Mr Eren followed me into the dining room, clearly agitated.

"I was seated when Mr Eren approached and stood on the other side of the table, opposite me. We then had a robust exchange in our native tongue, which was a brief conversation.

"At no point was I holding a butter knife. At no time did I threaten anyone."

Mr Somyurek said there were a number of witnesses to the discussion.

Gaming Minister Marlene Kairouz said she did not see her factional colleague holding a knife

"I was present at the table in the dining room when a robust discussion occurred between colleagues in Turkish," she said.

"I did not see a knife in anyone's hand and I did not see a physical altercation. They should shake hands and move on."

Mr Eren is understood to be prepared to make a statutory declaration saying Mr Somyurek brandished a knife.

Investigation to be held

The argument between the Turkish-born MPs in Turkish comes amid a major factional realignment of the Victorian Labor Party, in which Mr Somyurek has been a chief architect.

Expletive-laden text messages sent from Mr Somyurek to Mr Eren. ( ABC News )

Late-night expletive-laden text messages from Mr Somyurek to Mr Eren about Federal Labor powerbroker Richard Marles seen by the ABC show the level of enmity between the politicians.

"There will be payback mate. Big time," Mr Somyurek told Mr Eren earlier this month.

"I'm going to f---k that Marles.

"I better not see that c---t.

"No one f---k lies to and rat f---ks like that and gets way with it."

Tensions laid bare

The dispute has also exposed simmering tensions within Premier Daniel Andrews' caucus.

In Parliament, Mr Eren rejected suggestions by Opposition leader Matthew Guy that he had been drinking before the feud.

"There was an incident that took place last night and I've reported that to the presiding officer, and as he indicated earlier ... there will be an ongoing investigation into that incident," Mr Eren said.

"Accordingly, of course it would be totally inappropriate for me to make any comments in relation to that investigation."

Mr Eren, the member for the Geelong-based seat of Lara, is the Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Sport and Veterans.

Mr Somyurek, the member for the Upper House seat of South-Eastern Metropolitan, was forced to resign as Small Business Minister in 2015 following bullying allegations by his former chief of staff.

At the time, Mr Somyurek demanded the Premier sack his own chief of staff, as well as Deputy Premier James Merlino.