You can’t call someone a liar in federal parliament, but apparently you can tell them to “learn to speak Australian”.

Outspoken Liberal Ian Macdonald bellowed exactly that across the Senate chamber during Question Time on Wednesday at Scotland-born Labor senator Doug Cameron, drawing opposition Senate leader Penny Wong to her feet.

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Senator Wong demanded he withdraw the “inappropriate” jibe.

“In a multicultural society, that thing ought not be said in the national parliament,” she said.

However, Senate President Stephen Parry ruled the remark wasn’t unparliamentary.