Senator Hollie Hughes has called out the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party for ‘doubting’ whether a colleague made derogatory comments in the Chamber yesterday.

Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe is accused of making a derogatory comment, which intentionally targeted Ms Hughes’ autistic son.

Ms Thorpe has since released a statement denying the reference to her fellow Senator’s family (full statement below).

Ms Hughes admitted to Ray Hadley repeating the comment “takes the wind out of me every time”.

“That’s been compounded this morning by Tanya Plibersek doing an interview and when asked about it, she said: ‘Well, if it’s true-‘,” Ms Hughes told Ray Hadley.

“This is the most high-profile Labor woman doubting whether or not it occurred.

“I’m sorry, here we are again with this Me Too movement, only for left women; conservative women, oh, you know, that’s probably not true.

“Lydia Thorpe gave an apology in the Senate – it happened, you know.”

Press PLAY below to hear Senator Hughes’ account of the incident

Full statement from Senator Lidia Thorpe:

“Last night I interjected in the Senate using inappropriate language. I regret doing that – and immediately retracted my comments and apologised unreservedly to the Senator.

“However, I thoroughly reject any suggestion that I directly or indirectly referenced Senator Hughes’ family.

“That characterisation of my interjection is completely untrue, and more importantly, harmful to every disabled person.”

Image: Senator Hollie Hughes / Twitter