It was supposed to be a day of harmony in the Senate as Parliament basked in the loved-up glow of the postal survey result.

But Cory Bernardi had other ideas.

Just before lunchtime on Thursday, the Australian Conservatives senator moved a series of motions in the Senate attacking abortion, communism, progressive activists GetUp! and White Ribbon Australia, which works to stop violence against women.

Only one of the motions - which are used to record what the Senate thinks - was successful. But for about half an hour, they caused chaos as Coalition MPs split during the votes and other senators yelled abuse at each other. This comes with government MPs already divided over how to legalise same-sex marriage.