In a humiliating backdown, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has been forced to admit it doesn’t own the term “Lambassador”.

During a Senate Estimates hearing, MLA Managing Director Richard Norton conceded “Lambassador” maybe not actually be their intellectual property.

It comes after the organisation’s objection to Sam Kekovich voicing his support for the Australian Conservatives party in an online post using the same term.

A term used in MLA’s well-known Australia Day lamb ads.

Australian Conservatives Leader Cory Bernardi tells Ben Fordham “it’s just crazy”.

“Sam Kekovich agreed to do an ad because he supports the Australian Conservatives and what we’re trying to do for the nation.

“Then, the MLA, instead of giving me a call and having a chat with me about it, sent me a legal letter saying they’re going to sue me!

“They’re going to sue me because apparently, they’re going to lose their funding, they own the intellectual property and I didn’t ask permission to Sam Kekovich.”

And Senator Bernardi has bitten back, saying “the funding’s got nothing to do with me”.

“These heavy-handed bureaucratic sponges are just telling me what I can do with my own political party.

“But they neglected to mention that they haven’t registered Lambassador so I can tell you right now that Lambassador.com.au belongs to me.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview 

As for the meat in the sandwich, Mr Kekovich, the Senator says he’s done “absolutely nothing wrong”.

“He’s pursued a commercial contract for a cause he believes in.”