Samantha Maiden, the political editor for New Corp’s Sunday papers, received a text from the minister labelling her a “mad f***ing witch”, after penning a column critical of his colleague Jamie Briggs.

The message was reportedly intended for Briggs, who has stepped down after acting inappropriately towards a diplomat while on an overseas trip.

Malcolm Turnbull with Jamie Briggs last year. Photo: Mick Tsikas / AAP

“It’s a solid sledge,” she told the Nine Network on Monday.

“I sent him a text immediately saying `you know mate, you’ve sent that mad witch text to the mad witch’ and he was more than happy to apologise right away.”

Maiden said Dutton made the decision to own up, after she chose not to name him when appearing on Sunday television.

She hoped he doesn’t end up in the backbench in light of the message mix-up.

“Mr Dutton is a good minister, he’s a hard worker, he’s made a strong contribution to the government,” she said, adding there are more substantive issues in relation to the Briggs affair.

In a statement on Sunday evening Mr Dutton said he was expecting a tough time in the journalist’s next column.

“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.

The Australian newspaper reported that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had privately described the message as “completely inappropriate”.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham said the incident was “unfortunate”, but Mr Dutton recognised his error and immediately contacted the journalist to apologise.

“(He) of course has come out and publicly acknowledged that it was him, to avoid there being a witch-hunt or blame being pointed in other directions,” Mr Birmingham told ABC radio.

-AAP