Barnaby Joyce an absolute idiot: Marles

The deputy prime minister is an absolute idiot, a senior Labor MP says.

Labor frontbencher Richard Marles criticised Barnaby Joyce over his comments regarding an increase in asylum seeker boat arrivals after the live export ban was put in place.

"This man is the deputy prime minister of Australia, he is an absolute idiot," Mr Marles told Sky News.

Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne hit back at the comments, saying they are not appropriate and linking them to the opposition leader's comments that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is "barking mad".

"That is not appropriate for a prime minister, let alone your comments about Barnaby Joyce," Mr Pyne told Sky News.

"Really, people in glass houses should not be throwing stones."