Speaker Bronwyn Bishop and Senate President Stephen Parry have contradicted Prime Minister Tony Abbott, revealing he did not contact them to ask they reconsider their controversial plan to segregate women wearing a burqa or niqab.

That plan, which was dumped by Parliament's presiding officers on Monday morning, was put in place earlier this month after what Senator Parry said were "credible" concerns that up to 10 men, wearing facial coverings, had planned a protest to disrupt question time.

Speaker Bronwyn Bishop has denied speaking to PM Tony Abbott about reconsidering the burqa ban. Credit:Andrew Meares

Hours after the decision to segregate wearers of the garment was taken in the last sitting fortnight, Mr Abbott indicated he would seek to have the segregation plan overturned.

And the next day, Mr Abbott said: "I asked the Speaker to rethink that decision and my understanding is that it was an interim decision, that it would be looked at again in the light of security advice that will come in coming days and I'm sure that the matter will be fully resolved before the Parliament comes back in a fortnight."