Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says she felt she was being "set upon" and "played with" when she was allegedly defamed by former senator David Leyonhjelm.

Key points: Ms Hanson-Young alleges Mr Leyonhjelm's claims suggested she was a misandrist and a hypocrite

Ms Hanson-Young alleges Mr Leyonhjelm's claims suggested she was a misandrist and a hypocrite Mr Leyonhjelm's comments were made in parliament and repeated in media interviews

Mr Leyonhjelm's comments were made in parliament and repeated in media interviews His barrister said politicians often said "unpleasant things" about each other

The South Australian politician launched a defamation case against Mr Leyonhjelm in the Federal Court, claiming he suggested she was a misandrist and a hypocrite.

The comments began in the Senate chamber, before being repeated in a subsequent media release and media interviews, including on Sky News.

Senator Hanson-Young also alleges Mr Leyonhjelm falsely claimed she said all men were rapists during debate on a motion about self-defence mechanisms for women.

"I was upset. I was disappointed," Senator Hanson-Young told the court.

She said when she approached then-senator Leyonhjelm in the chamber to clarify the exchange, there was no suggestion from him that she made a provocative interjection.

Senator Hanson-Young told the court the subsequent media release was untrue.

"I felt I was being punished for standing up for myself," she said.

"I feel bullied … it's one thing to be in the chamber having a political debate, it's another thing to step outside and have to deal with lies and smears.

"To have that constant bullying and intimidation to continue, and that is what has happened for 10 months now."

Former Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm arrives at court. ( AAP: Dean Lewins )

Senator Hanson-Young recalled being at a campaign function when allegedly defamatory comments from Mr Leyonhjelm to a Sky News program were brought to her attention.

"To hear he had gone beyond the statement … to double-down and seek to make this into some type of media circus, I felt like he thought it was funny or he thought it was okay to go and do this," she said.

"It left me quite exposed and vulnerable."

The court was played the entire Sky News interview.

Senator Hanson-Young briefly stared at Mr Leyonhjelm across the courtroom, as he played with a pen and kept his eyes down.

Marion Gerlaud, Sarah Hanson-Young's chief of staff, told the court their office received rape and death threats against the senator and her daughter.

Ms Gerlaud said during one conversation, Ms Hanson-Young said she had begun to doubt her ability to be taken seriously in Canberra because people were more interested in her sex life than her role as a senator.

Mr Leyonhjelm's barrister, Tony Morris, told the court that what was defamatory to one person may not be defamatory to another, even though the same words may be used.

He said politicians said "unpleasant things" about one another, but it was "the sort of rough-and-tumble that is part of political life".