Independent MP Kate Chaney has accused former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce of using lewd comments to heckle Energy Minister Chris Bowen during question time on Thursday afternoon.

Chaney chose not to repeat the lines in the House as there were children present in the galleries, but told this masthead Joyce had called out to Bowen: “What are you doing with your hand in your pocket? What are you doing down there? Do you have a hole in your pocket?”

The West Australian rose to her feet during a question on energy prices from independent MP Dai Le to seek a ruling on whether Joyce – who sits next to Chaney in the chamber – had breached standing orders by using inappropriate language.

Standing order 90, which Chaney referenced, prohibits “making critical, insulting, or disparaging comments

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