JULIA Gillard was forced to withdraw an allegation of "race-baiting" against Tony Abbott in an ill-tempered parliamentary sitting today laden with personal insults.
And the Opposition Leader was accused of abusing the parliamentary process after seeking to suspend question time for a fourth day in a row to debate Julia Gillard's carbon tax.
As the Prime Minister defended another opposition censure attempt, she accused the Coalition of playing the politics of race to win votes.
Mr Abbott complained to Speaker Harry Jenkins, saying he'd been accused of a "low and contemptible charge; that of race-baiting", and demanded it be withdrawn.
Ms Gillard responded: "If it assists the house I will withdraw. And I say to the Opposition Leader he should reject the political tactics of Cory Bernardi."
Senator Bernardi recently claimed Islam was a "totalitarian" religion.
Mr Jenkins accepted the qualified statement of contrition - enraging the opposition - saying it was "in the nature of the robustness of the debate".
Question time was dominated by opposition attacks over the job impacts of Ms Gillard's carbon pricing scheme, and claims Greens leader Bob Brown was running the government.
Ms Gillard countered by repeatedly accusing the opposition of a "fear campaign".
After Mr Abbott rose to suspend question time for a fourth time in as many days, Leader of the House Anthony Albanese suggested the Opposition Leader was abusing parliamentary practice.
"We've now had this done everyday at 10 to three so the Leader of the Opposition can get on before Play School at five past three everyday," he said.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith also objected, claiming the suspension of standing orders should only be allowed in rare circumstances.
"The practice has (been) for a very long period of time that it is moved in exceptional or rare circumstances, not every day," he said.
"To move as the Leader of the Opposition has every day this week, at a particular time, is an abuse."
The censure motion was defeated 72 to 69.
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