One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is refusing to apologise for targeting a slur at another senator on the same day she faces a censure motion for inflammatory remarks against Muslims.

Hours ahead of the potential censure for recent comments about “no good Muslims”, Hanson stormed out of the chamber after calling independent Lidia Thorpe a “bitch” on Monday.

The insult came amid a heated back-and-forth between the two during a debate on US-Israel strikes on Iran, during which Thorpe continuously called Hanson a liar.

She also castigated Hanson for calling US President Donald Trump “Senator Trump” in her speech.

The two then quietly traded barbs off-mic, with Thorpe heard telling Hanson, “if you want to talk to me, then make an appointment”, before Hanson used the derogatory term.

She walked out of the chamber as Thorpe went to make a point of order over the comment.

“I’ll be glad to see the back of you in two years’ time,” was Hanson’s parting shot – in reference to Thorpe’s plan not to contest the next election.

At least one Coalition senator was seen trying to contain laughter.

Hanson subsequently said she apologised “if the public heard me call Senator Thorpe a bitch”, but added she didn’t take back the comment.

“The Senate chamber is meant to be a place for debate, not constant screaming and yelling over the top of senators like we see from Senator Thorpe,” she said.

“I will not be repeatedly called a liar … I’ve had a gutful of her and so too has the vast majority of Australians.”

Thorpe didn’t wade in on the non-apology, saying Australians did not want more name-calling – they wanted action on rent, wages and the cost of living.

She accused Hanson of focusing on culture wars to distract from her relationship with billionaires such as Gina Rinehart, including flying on the mining magnate’s private jet.

“She’s not standing up to the elites. She is part of them and then uses division and theatrics to distract from it,” she said.

The heated exchange comes as the Coalition faces pressure to reject a preference deal with the resurgent One Nation in an upcoming byelection for the NSW seat of Farrer.

The poll was triggered by the resignation of former Liberal leader Sussan Ley after she was knifed by Angus Taylor for the party’s top job in February.

But Taylor has refused to say if the Liberals will direct preferences to One Nation, adding the party isn’t at that point yet.

“What I will say is we’ll show respect to those who are thinking about voting One Nation,” he said.

A date is yet to be set for the byelection.

The latest Newspoll, published on Monday, showed the Coalition’s primary vote rising slightly to 20 per cent, still well behind One Nation’s 27 per cent and Labor’s 32 per cent.

-AAP