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A stoush between independent MP Dai Le and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke over a citizenship ceremony invitation has escalated, as the pair accuse each other of lying.

Appearing in consecutive interviews on ABC Sydney’s Mornings radio program, both Le and Burke were on the defence while explaining their version of events around the large citizenship ceremony that took place in Homebush in Sydney’s west over the weekend.

“He claimed he gave me an invitation. That’s why I’m speaking out, because I never received such an invitation, never. There’s no piece of paper to say inviting me to this event,” Le said.

Burke says that an invitation was extended to Le in two forms – directly in a verbal conversation at a different citizenship ceremony on Friday, and through an invitation sent to the Fairfield mayor, which Burke says was extended to Le in her capacity as deputy mayor. Le became heated when denying this claim.

“No, no, why would I lie,” Le said, before reasserting that she and Burke had spoken, but an invitation had not been extended to her. “No, definitely not. I am not going to lie, this is a BS lie from [Burke].”

Le then accused Burke of using the citizenship ceremony as a fundraiser for Labor’s Fowler candidate.

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Burke was interviewed next, calling the whole saga “a bit sad”.

“I know exactly what I said. I know I said that she was welcome. If she’s got a different recollection of the conversation, I’m not sure how much further we can take it.”

Burke agreed that Le didn’t get a personalised written invitation from the department, noting that the only people who did were those obligated to by law: the local member of parliament for the site of the citizenship ceremony and the relevant senator for the area. He says all other politicians and candidates in attendance came in an informal capacity.

He also disputed Le’s characterisation of the ceremony as politicised. “These events are the least political events you go to in your lives. No one talks about parties. No one talks about policies. People talk about Australia.”