The Deputy Opposition leader, Julie Bishop, cannot rule out speaking to Ralph Blewitt by telephone last week, only that she never rang him and he never rang her.
Ms Bishop, the chief inquisitor of Julia Gillard over the AWU slush fund saga, said on Tuesday that she had spoken to Mr Blewitt just once and that was at a face-to-face meeting in Melbourne on Friday last week.
Ms Bishop said the meeting with the self-confessed fraudster and AWU bag man was coincidental, that she was in Melbourne on party business when the former radio host, Michael Smith, rang her.
Ms Bishop said Mr Smith, who has been relentlessy pursuing Ms Gillard over the saga, told her he was with Mr Blewitt and suggested they should meet.
Ms Bishop agreed and they met at a cafe for about 10 minutes.
However, Fairfax Media reported on Wednesday that the pair had spoken at least once before - by phone on Wednesday last week when Ms Bishop was in Perth.
This report led to Labor MPs calling for Ms Bishop’s resignation this morning.
''If those media reports are correct, then Julie Bishop has out and out lied,'' said the minister, Craig Emerson.
''She should therefore resign or be sacked.''
The Queensland MP, Yvette D’Ath, said Ms Bishop was demanding Ms Gillard recall events from more than 17 years ago ‘‘when Julie Bishop herself can’t even recall what she did last week’’.
Ms Bishop has released a statement not ruling out that the pair spoke by phone.
''Earlier last week Michael Smith called me while I was driving in Perth and said he was at dinner with someone who wanted to speak to me,'' she said.
''That person did not identify themselves and said he was pleased that the AWU fraud was being raised in Parliament.
''I said that would continue to be the case and my mobile phone dropped out at that point.
''Michael Smith did not call back and I do not know to whom I spoke.''