The education minister in New South Wales, Australia, John Aquilina, is embroiled in controversy after he told parliament of a student's alleged plans to carry out a "school massacre".

The family of the boy, whose alleged plot to kill teachers and peers at Cecil Hills High School in Sydney was uncovered when students found his diary, said the government had turned their son into an outcast. Aquilina has offered them an apology of sorts.

"What I am apologising for is the distress caused to the family because of claims there was a gun (at the boy's) house," he told reporters. "I regret having raised the matter, based on the fact that some information was incorrect."

Opposition politicians have continued to press for an explanation as to why Aquilina advised parliament of a "massacre list" when the school principal believed there had been no threat.