Greens leader suspended from Senate amid 'slut shaming' row

Greens leader Richard Di Natale was suspended from the Senate and colleague Sarah Hanson-Young accused opponents of "slut shaming" in a dramatic blow-up yesterday.

The fiery exchanges exploded when Queensland LNP Senator Barry O'Sullivan made a remark about Senator Hanson-Young.

Senator Di Natale called Senator O'Sullivan a "pig" and refused to withdraw the comment when repeatedly called on to do so by President of Upper House Scott Ryan.

The Liberals then moved a motion to have the Greens leader suspended.

Labor supported the motion, with Penny Wong explaining it wasn't to support Senator O'Sullivan, but out of respect for the President.

But Senator Hanson-Young went on the attack, saying Senator Di Natale had acted like a man, and she called out not only Senator O'Sullivan but crossbenchers Corey Bernardi, Fraser Anning, and David Leyonhjelm.

"You're not fit to be in the parliament," she said.

"You're not fit to represent your constituents.

"You're not fit to call yourselves men."

She said she was constantly the victim of the "gender game", saying their behaviour was "reprehensible and disgusting" calling them "cowards".

"Real men don't insult and threaten women," she said.

"Real men don't slut shame them."

The Senate sexism saga comes as the Liberal party grapples with its own gender debacle.

MP Julia Banks spectacularly quit the party yesterday to sit on the crossbench, hitting out at self-interested "right wing reactionaries" who dumped Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister.

Former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Ms Banks' move shone a light on the issue of the Liberal party and women.

"This (Ms Banks' move to the crossbench) does highlight the fact the Liberal Party needs and should have more female representation," Ms Bishop said.

"I'm saddened that Julia Banks had reached a point where she felt she could longer continue in the Liberal Party, she will be missed.

"She was a strong, sensible centre female politician."