CANBERRA, Australia (Reuters) -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard called on Monday for reality television program "Big Brother" to be taken off the air after an incident between contestants prompted an investigation into sexual assault.

Two housemates were kicked off the program on Saturday and police were called in after an early-morning incident was broadcast live on the Internet by the Ten Network.

Police said they would lay no charges over the incident, where a male contestant held down a female housemate while another male contestant rubbed his groin in her face.

"I think it is just a question of good taste," Howard told Australian radio on Monday.

"Here is a great opportunity for Channel Ten to do a bit of self-regulation and get this stupid program off the air."

The Saturday incident is the latest in a long string of complaints about the raunchy antics of the young housemates. The previous week the channel dumped an adults-only version of the show after complaints about excessive nudity.