Independent senator Glenn Lazarus is demanding Tony Abbott apologise for describing the Senate as "feral" and warned the Prime Minister's comments may hamper negotiations on future legislation.

In a fiery exchange during the Senate question time, Attorney-General George Brandis suggested the Senate was overreaching in its role, behaving like a "House of Refusal" instead of a "House of Review".

Mr Abbott made the "feral" remark in the Coalition party room on Tuesday, telling MPs the government was dealing with a "feral" Senate when it came to passing budget measures.

"Did the Prime Minister have any senator in mind when he referred to the Senate crossbench as "feral" and is the Prime Minister going to apologise to each and every one of us for such an appalling and disrespectful statement?" Senator Lazarus asked.