A NSW Labor senator has apologised after copping flak for sledging Adelaide, saying his comments were in “poor taste” and he has hit the “rock bottom of politics”.

In Parliament yesterday, Senator Sam Dastyari teased SA Liberal senator Cory Bernardi after he gloated about Adelaide United’s victory.

“It must have been a tough week for Senator Bernardi in Adelaide,” Sen Dastyari said.

“There was the A-League final, and his city was overrun by a bunch of halal-eating, drum-beating, Sydney loving football fans.”

"Bernardi you may've won the #ALeagueGF but we get to go back to Syd + you have to stay in Adelaide" - @samdastyari pic.twitter.com/mJfh60ljxO — Alice Workman (@workmanalice) 2 May 2016

media_camera SA Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis. media_camera Senator Cory Bernardi.

Sen Bernardi replied: “We beat you.”

Then came the low blow from the Sydneysider.

“You may have won the A-League final but we get to go back to Sydney and you have to stay in Adelaide.”

Maybe @samdastyari & Sen David Johnston can write a book on how to influence people and win friends in South Australia. — Tom Koutsantonis (@TKoutsantonisMP) May 2, 2016

Speaking on 5AA this morning, Sen Dastyari said he had really “copped it” — and since marking the remarks, had been criticised by security at Parliament House, media and South Australian politicians Senator Penny Wong and Jamie Briggs.

Sen Dastyari said he was summoned to Ms Wong’s office this morning, where he saw a new side of the senator.

“I call them understand meetings, where Penny tells you exactly what to think and at the end you understand where she’s coming from,” he said.

But it was criticism from Jamie Briggs which made him truly look at his words.

“You know you’ve done something wrong when Jamie Briggs is able to have a go at you and he’s right,” he said.

“You know you’ve really hit rock bottom of politics when that happens.”

Sen Dastyari said his comment was “a poor joke made in poor taste” and a bad attempt of being playful.

“(I am) of course, unreservedly, totally, apologising,” he said.

“It was a well deserved win from Adelaide United but we’re all a little bit sore - another premiership, another championship that we’ve lost.”

media_camera Labor Senator Sam Dastyari says his comments were in poor taste.

But trying to win back South Australians, Sen Dastyari said there was more that unites Sydney and Adelaide than what divided the two cities - “our hatred of Melbourne”.

Senator Bernardi told The Advertiser he welcomed Sen Dastyari’s apology, but said the comment had reflected federal Labor’s attitude towards South Australia.

“It just goes to show what the ALP really thinks about South Australia. Our interests would be neglected if Labor ever gets back into power,’’ Sen Bernardi said.

“I think the apology was only proper. But I wonder why it took Penny Wong so long to ask him to recant.’’

South Australian Senator Simon Birmingham also weighed on Sen Dastyari’s demeaning remarks and his absence from Parliament today.

“He’s obviously not here because he still has Senator Wong’s boot print in his backside,” Sen Birmingham said.

Earlier, when asked what he thought about his Labor colleague’s comments, SA Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said Sen Dastyari was a senator, not the leader of the Opposition and his comments were his own.

“Sam Dastyari doesn’t reflect the views of the Australian Labor Party,” he told ABC 891.

“I think everyone in the Labor Party is horrified by what he said.

“What Mr Dastyari said was silly and stupid and he should apologise.”

@PictonChris - 'don't mess with Adelaide' - lesson of the week. Either in Football or politics. — Sam Dastyari (@samdastyari) May 2, 2016