"The objective conditions allowing Balažic to continue performing his tasks in Australia are no longer fulfilled," Erjavec told the press. The motion to recall Balažic will be debated by the government on Thursday.

The move caps weeks of controversy over the invitation of convicted child sex offender Nicholas Oman, best known for his role as arms dealer in the early 1990s, to the opening of the consulate in Melbourne in March.

Oman's presence was met with outrage by the members of the Slovenian community in Australia, who have come out in force and demanded action from the Slovenian authorities.

The controversy has centred around whether Oman was officially invited to the event, as members of the Slovenian community claimed, or just accompanied his daughter, which was the embassy's official line.

An initial investigation by the Foreign Ministry exculpated Balažic and found Oman had not been on the official guest list, but later photos surfaced of Oman and Balažic sitting at the same table at the event.

According to Erjavec the decision to propose a recall was prompted by "new documents", including photos of Oman and Balažic at the same table.

However, when Balažic was in Slovenia to explain his conduct he asserted he had not sat at the same table with Oman, according to Erjavec.

"I feel he misled me when he was describing the events...I trusted his testimony," Erjavec said, noting that the same thing had happened when Balažic appeared in front of the Foreign Policy Committee.

Formally, Erjavec said Balažic's conduct constituted a breach of provisions of the act on foreign affairs that stipulate ambassadors must maintain good relations with Slovenian diaspora organisations.

Milan Balažic was appointed ambassador in mid-2011 after serving as the Foreign Ministry spokesman in the Borut Pahor government.

According to law, to recall an ambassador the government must take a decision in agreement with the president of the republic, who then issues a relevant decree as the person formally in charge of appointing and dismissing top diplomats.