An Australian politician who told a pregnant rival that her baby could be born a demon was ordered to seek anger counseling on the day before, after a string of allegations about her caustic behavior.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd interrupted his official visit to Japan to rebuke the junior member of his centre-left government, Belinda Neal, ordering her to improve her behavior and warning that her future in politics was not guaranteed.

His intervention came after a string of media reports about Neal, including her comments to pregnant Liberal Party politician Sophie Mirabella, revelations she was suspended from a soccer team for kicking a fallen opponent, and allegations she threatened and abused staff at a restaurant north of Sydney.

Neal is married to New South Wales state minister and political powerbroker John Della Bosca. She narrowly won her seat in the lower House of Representatives at last elections.