Industry Minister Tim Ayres and independent David Pocock have traded barbs over Labor's investment into Australian research, prompting a Liberal senator to interject to defend the independent.
Senator Pocock queried Labor's investment into research during question time on Wednesday, after Senator Ayres claimed the Albanese government had invested more than any government into the policy area.
"Don't be offended but I'm not really going to take your report card into our achievements on this area," Senator Ayres hit back.
"What is certain is, governments deliver, independents talk.
"We have delivered substantial funding for the CSIRO, you haven't built a roundabout."
The comment brought Liberal senator Paul Scarr to his feet to defend Senator Pocock, arguing it was a personal reflection that should be withdrawn.
Senate President Sue Lines disagreed before directing Senator Ayres to continue.
"What we are doing is grappling with the real challenges of the Australian research and development system, not complaining, not seeking to find a sort of new set of Instagram posts, we are about delivering substantially."
Senator Pocock later defended his question as "serious" and said Senator Ayres was selling independents short.
"Yes, we push and make things uncomfortable, as we see in the Senate during question time," the ACT senator said.
"And he's correct, I have not delivered a roundabout for Canberra, but I've also never had a single Canberran ask me for another roundabout in Canberra."
The independent senator had been calling for more funding for the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, which funds the infrastructure and tools needed for research.
Senator Ayres said the government would assess the short and long-term requirements for research infrastructure funding in the lead-up to the next budget.
Earlier in the day the independent had also called for Finance Minister Katy Gallagher to get a move on with plans to sell off the CSIRO Ginninderra site to the ACT government, in order to build more affordable homes.
Spokespeople for both governments have said they are in the process of finalising the transaction.
