An anti-Iraq war activist dramatically hurled shoes at former Australian prime minister John Howard on live national TV on Monday, mimicking the famous protest directed at ex-US leader George W. Bush.

The protester stood up and threw two shoes, which missed Howard, while shouting slogans during a stormy edition of public broadcaster ABC's Q&A debate-style show.

"That is for Iraqi dead," the protester shouted, before being quickly escorted away. A woman audience member yelled: "You've got blood on your hands" before walking out of the studio.

Howard smiled and appeared unfazed by the stunt, which followed a surprise recorded question from "Aussie Taliban" David Hicks, a former Guantanamo Bay inmate, during a series of tough questions about his time in power.

"It's all right, don't worry. Forget it, forget it. Relax," he told host Tony Jones.

The conservative Howard, whose 11-year rule ended in 2007, sent Australian troops for the US-led invasion of Iraq as a staunch supporter of then-president Bush.

Last November a protester threw a shoe at Howard during a speech at Britain's Cambridge University. In 2008, an Iraqi journalist hurled shoes at Bush during a press conference in Baghdad and was later jailed for nine months.

Hicks, who like Howard has just released his memoirs, asked the former leader to explain his support for a US military justice system which saw him held without conviction.

Howard was also challenged about his strict immigration policies and why he did not apologise for the "Stolen Generations" of Aboriginal children taken from their families to assimilate with Anglo-Saxon culture.

"And all you had to show for it was some fairly smelly sneakers," quipped Jones as the show wrapped up.