A senior government minister is defending Michaelia Cash after she threatened to reveal “rumours” about women working for Bill Shorten.

The Jobs Minister made the suggestion during a fiery Senate hearing when confronted with questions about recent staff changes in her office.

Senator Cash later withdrew the comments, but Labor is demanding an apology.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann tells Alan Jones it’s a targeted attack.

“The Labor Party doesn’t like Michaelia because Michaelia is a very effective operator, the unions don’t like her because she’s been successful in passing very important reforms.

“She’s been fighting union corruption and the Labor Party is an agent for the union movement and some of the worst elements of the union movement clearly don’t like her.”

Alan also questioned Minister Cormann about the government’s failure to pass company tax cuts as well as the need to get rid of renewable energy subsidies.

Click PLAY below for the full interview