<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Labor MP Glenn Sterle and Nationals counterpart Bridget McKenzie have been caught in a heated moment of name-calling that briefly derailed a Senate committee.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pair were debating the federal government's actions on the trucking industry and tax during a hearing on rural and regional affairs and transport today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sterle, the chair of the hearing, said he would argue with McKenzie on taxes anywhere and threatened to metaphorically "cut" her up.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/murder-appeal-susan-kay-joanne-teterin-reward-newcastle-nsw/f5cb4245-7ff4-435b-8979-4ac4d0619478" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>New $1m reward over cold case murder of women 'bludgeoned to death'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Happy to have that debate with you on any forum... anywhere in Australia because I'll cut you up," Sterle said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You'll cut me up?" McKenzie replied.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Metaphorically, yes, I'll carve you up is what I should say," Sterle clarified after a silent moment.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/labor-senator-glenn-sterle-and-nationals-senator-bridget-mckenzie-caught-in-heated-moment-that-briefly-derails-hearing/43cc859e-c73f-49a3-8a58-a6a399699adb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Cheers. I'll be writing to (Finance Minister Katy Gallagher) and (Foreign Minister Penny Wong) on that one," McKenzie replied.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pair continued arguing and Sterle became visibly agitated, asking the minister being questioned to swap seats so he could "educate the ignoramus from the other side".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Ignoramus, going to carve me up, going to cut me up, anything else?" McKenzie said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What a charmer. Ladies, I hope you're listening."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/qantas-direct-flights-project-sunrise-london-nyc-delayed/8cbcf087-2d80-42c5-9a7a-53876d0496d0" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Qantas Project Sunrise flights delayed again due to supply chain issue</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sterle continued to hit out at McKenzie, including over a report about the National senator's use of taxpayer-funded travel expenses.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to </span><em><span>The Age,</span></em><span> McKenzie billed taxpayers $853.52 for a four-day trip to Tasmania in February 2023, where she also attended her son's wedding.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The room was quiet as Sterle and McKenzie continued to go back and forth for over two minutes until someone suggested the hearing be briefly suspended. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Returning to the hearing, Sterle said he regretted using those "choice words".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As you can see, that was the worst of the worst being on display here," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As frustrations boil over, language is used that shouldn't be used. I regret using some of my choice words, I take that back but I'm very happy to defend what this government has done with sham contracting with the transport industry.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I will not use that language again, Senator McKenzie, but if you wish to debate me, the offer is still there."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Respectfully, I will take that up," McKenzie replied.</span></div></div>