"The education system failed her": Is this the remark that sparked Jacqui Lambie's fury?

Is this the exchange that sparked Jacqui Lambie's fury against conservative Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi? 

Senator Bernardi says he has only ever had one private conversation with the Tasmanian maverick and it was an innocuous chat in which the new Senator was complaining about not having yet received her paycheck since being elected. 

Yet the fiery Senator singled out Senator Bernardi as her first target in the hypothetical event she would have a biff with one of her colleagues. Speaking to Annabel Crabb on the ABC's Kitchen Cabinet, Senator Lambie labelled Senator Bernardi an "arsehole." 

Jacqui Lambie chats to Annabel Crabb over a meal of Tasmanian salmon and salad. Photo: ABC Kitchen Cabinet

"[He's got] a born with a silver spoon up my rear end [attitude]," she said. 

But a two-year old exchange in the Senate over an education funding bill may be the key to the pair's contempt for each other.

In Question Time, Senator Lambie asked Education Minister Simon Birmingham to "guarantee $100 million of Gonski funding for our state schools?" Senator Birmingham could only promise $54.3 million worth of funding over the next four years. 

Liberal senator Cory Bernardi. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

"Does the minister agree with his Liberal state colleague and what plan does he have to prevent entrenched disadvantage for Tasmanian school children?" Senator Lambie followed up.

Shortly after Senator Bernardi struck.

"I agree with Jacqui - the education system has clearly failed her!" Senator Bernardi interjected. 

Labor Senator Doug Cameron leapt to Senator Lambie's defence. 

"Senator Bernardi cast aspersions on Senator Lambie. He should withdraw," Senator Cameron told the President Stephen Parry.

Senator Bernardi refused on the basis that what he had said was not inappropriate. 

"I do not know what you have to do to cast an aspersion on a fellow senator other than to say that the education system in Tasmania has failed the senator. It should be withdrawn," Senator Cameron insisted. 

"I think Senator Cameron did accurately reflect what I said. I still do not believe it is unparliamentary," Senator Bernadi responded. 

Eventually he agreed to withdraw the remark.

Education funding is one of the key differences between the Coalition and Labor with the Opposition pledging to restore in full the so-called Gonski funding which the Liberals promised to match. 

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