Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm has defended calling experienced entertainment reporter Angela Bishop a”bitch”, saying it is a “normal part” of the Australian language.

“I am not sexist in my abuse,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.

In a heated exchange on Ten’s talk show Studio 10 on Wednesday morning, Senator Leyonhjelm refused to apologise to Bishop for calling her a “bigoted bitch” on Twitter.

“I mix with normal Australians, I think, and they use that language all the time,” Senator Leyonhjelm said in an attempt to rationalise his use of the word “bitch”.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.

“Normal language that Australians use outside of parliament is used inside parliament.”

Senator Leyonhjelm claimed Bishop failed to listen to co-host Joe Hildebrand’s explanation of the context in which Senator Leyonhjelm told Senator Sarah Hanson-Young to “stop shagging men”.

He said this warranted his use of the phrase “bigoted bitch” towards the Studio 10 panellist.

“In the context, it was entirely appropriate,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.

.@AngelaBishop won't even listen to @Joe_Hildebrand explain the misandry. What a bigoted bitch. #ldpau https://t.co/KltzsvsXr4

— David Leyonhjelm (@DavidLeyonhjelm) June 30, 2018

Bishop said she was “not guilty” of misandry and “fully understood the context” in which Senator Leyonhjelm made those sexual comments.

“In fact, I have argued for your right to prosecute your arguments,” Bishop said.

When asked by guest panellist Hugh Riminton whether he should have used only the word “bigot” if he thought Bishop was being a misandrist, Senator Leyonhjelm said “women call each other bitches”.

“Real men don’t call women bitches,” Riminton said.

“Oh, you’ve had a very sheltered life,” Senator Leyonhjelm responded.

Asked again by Riminton whether it was acceptable to call women “bitches”, Senator Leyonhjelm said “when they are bitches, sure”.

The NSW senator stood by his remarks, apologising only for any offence that Bishop might have taken:  “I’m sorry you took offence at that,” he said.

Asked whether he admitted that calling Bishop a bitch was indeed wrong, Senator Leyonhjelm said “no, no”.

“I am very even-handed in my abuse,” he said.

“If I’m going to abuse somebody, I might call her a bitch and if it was a man who said that, I might call him a b——d. I don’t regard that as sexism.”

#DavidLeyonhjelm’s off-camera concession after calling ⁦@AngelaBishop⁩ a “bigoted bitch” – “I probably shouldn’t have said it in public.” ⁦@tendailyau⁩ ⁦@channeltennews⁩ #auspol pic.twitter.com/5kRiX60NvN

— Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton) July 3, 2018

However, later, according to a Twitter post from Riminton, Senator Leyonhjelm conceded he probably shouldn’t have called Bishop a “bigoted bitch” in public.