Question time erupted into an emotionally-charged war of words on Wednesday afternoon as Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and other MPs unleashed personal attacks on each other's ethical standards and personal behaviour.

Eight MPs were ejected from the parliamentary chamber during a series of venomous exchanges on subjects including the links between coal power and Cyclone Debbie, Mr Turnbull's connection to the collapse of insurance giant HIH and Mr Shorten's deals as a union leader.

Hostilities kicked off when, in response to a question on penalty rates and the government's company tax cuts, Mr Turnbull labelled Mr Shorten "phoney", a "coward" and a "so-called champion of the workers", renewing a familiar attack on the Opposition Leader's deals with employers when he led the Australian Workers Union.

Following another answer from Mr Turnbull shortly after, Labor employment spokesman Brendan O'Connor was then told to sit down and denied a question when he asked the Prime Minister: "Are you hungover?"