Bad language causes a stir in the Senate

The question of whether foul language should be used in the Senate chamber has been referred to a parliamentary committee.

Senate President Stephen Parry ruled on Monday that it was up to individual senators to use their judgment when quoting offensive material, being mindful of the wider audience including children in the public gallery.

The review was prompted when Labor last week took offence to foul language used by Employment Minister Michaelia Cash, as she quoted language used by union officials to demonstrate bad behaviour on construction sites.

Senior Labor figure Stephen Conroy said his sixth-grade daughter was in the chamber on Monday, and he would not want her listening to the language the minister used.

Senator Cash used the offensive language to demonstrate how inappropriate it was for a construction site, meaning it was certainly not appropriate language for parliament, he said.

"The sixth-grade girls class from my daughter's school are here today and if Senator Cash was to stand up and graphically describe a sexual act as she did last time, I would be a little concerned and would want the chair to have the ability to deal with that."

The president said he would ask the procedure committee to make further determinations and investigate whether Senate standing orders need to be revised.