Outspoken Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi has likened independent Senator Jacqui Lambie to an episode of Dumb and Dumber after she described him as an “angry prostitute” during a debate in the upper house on Thursday.

“I think she is too thick to pay any real attention to,” Mr Bernardi told Sky News on Sunday when asked about the much-publicised jibe.

Mr Bernardi also accused Ms Lambie of lacking the “dignity” required to be a senator.

The feud broke out between two of Australia’s most outspoken senators during last week’s furore over Labor MP Sam Dastyari’s relationship with a Chinese donor.

Mr Bernardi said he chose to ignore Ms Lambie. Photo: AAP

‘Too thick to pay attention to’

Following the revelation that Mr Dastyari had allowed the donor to pay for some of his expenses, Mr Bernardi pushed for the MP to stand down.

Mr Bernardi said the matter had the “stench of corruption”.

Ms Lambie said Mr Bernardi’s ‘mock outrage’ was “like an angry prostitute lecturing us about the benefits of celibacy”.

“Before I receive unfair criticism from the sex workers, I apologise to them profusely for comparing them to Senator Bernardi – I know that is a really terrible low-down thing to do,” Ms Lambie said.

“Prostitutes are far more honest, sincere, humane, compassionate and better bang for buck than Senator Bernardi will ever be able to deliver.”

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Bernardi attempted to get his own back with a stab at Ms Lambie’s intelligence.

“There’s an inherent dignity in being a Senator,” he said.

“I just don’t think that Jacqui Lambie has demonstrated that.

“I just think she’s too thick to pay any real attention to, that’s my view. I choose to ignore her.”

Was @corybernardi offended by my comments? #auspol #politas pic.twitter.com/mKqiOrHhWF

— Jacqui Lambie (@JacquiLambie) September 1, 2016

Bernardi takes aim at the lower house

Ms Lambie wasn’t the only politician feeling the sting of Mr Bernardi’s burn last week.

The conservative senator hit back at suggestions his proposed changes to the Radical Discrimination Act were undermining the Turnbull government’s work.

Malcolm Turnbull leaves parliament after losing two division votes. Photo: AAP

“If you’re talking about me derailing government ideas, nothing derails a government idea like losing a vote in the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 or 50 years,” he told Sky News.

“I’m not going to suspend what’s important to the Liberal Party in favour of those people who can’t even control the Liberal Party in the lower house.”

Mr Bernardi was of course referring to the embarrassing conclusion to the first week of parliament after various MPs slipped off early for the weekend.

Labor exploited its temporary majority to win three votes on a royal commission into banks before Mr Turnbull’s ministers got to the scene.

Treasurer Scott Morrison was forced to rip our his ear piece and bolt from a Sky News interview – while Peter Dutton was well on his way to the airport and had to turn around.

-with AAP