Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi labelled a "homophobic dinosaur"

A quick note from the Upper House where the fallout from this morning's stoush between Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi continues.

ABC reporter Stephanie Anderson was listening in as Greens Senator Janet Rice criticised Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi over his calls to refund an anti-bullying program aimed to help gay and lesbian school students.

The exchange, which included comments from LNP Senator Barry O’Sullivan and Chair Stephen Parry, went as follows:

Rice: Yesterday we discovered that Senator Bernardi’s speech wasn’t just corralled as the late night ravings of a homophobic dinosaur, but that Prime Minister Turnbull had caved into him and other rightwing henchmen. Rather than showing vision and courage-

Chair: Sorry, Senator Rice. Senator O’Sullivan?

O’Sullivan: Point of order, chairman. The rules of the Senate are clear. Those reflections on Senator Bernardi are completely out of order, referring to him as a dinosaur and alike, and the senator should withdraw them.

Chair: Senator O’Sullivan, I’ve sat through many debates in this chamber and this probably one of the nicer referrals to some senators. There is no point of order.

Senator Bernardi has since responded, telling the Senate that Opposition Leader Bill Shorten had experienced a “Mark Latham moment” when he referred to him as a homophobe.