TERRITORY Senator Trish Crossin skipped a vote in Canberra because she was on the radio criticising another politician for doing the same thing. 

The Territory's only two representatives in the senate - senators Trish Crossin and Nigel Scullion - reverted to childish name calling yesterday as they criticised each other's tardy behaviour in parliament.

Senator Crossin called Senator Scullion an "absolute tosser". Senator Scullion said the insult would worry him "if it came from anyone else but Trish Crossin". 

Labor's Senator Crossin said she was given permission by her party to skip the Greens' motion on nuclear waste storage in the Northern Territory to meet Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus. But she also did an interview with ABC Radio during that time, where she criticised Senator Scullion for missing the vote on the alcopops tax. 

The CLP's Senator Scullion missed the vote because he was in an "impromptu meeting" in a stairwell and did not hear the bell. The law passed because of Senator Scullion's absence and had to be recast to allow the coalition to block the tax. 

"This is comparing apples with pears," Senator Crossin said. "I was given permission to leave. 

"Unlike Nigel Scullion, I didn't embarrass myself and have to explain myself."

But Senator Scullion said Senator Crossin campaigned against the Commonwealth Waste Management legislation and yesterday had an opportunity to vote against it. 

"This is something she is passionate about. Why wouldn't she be there," Senator Scullion said. 

Senator Crossin said Senator Scullion broke a long-standing convention by questioning her absence after the senate granted her a "leave pass". 

"It is rude and malicious to question why a person does not vote if they are given permission to leave," Senator Crossin said. 

"I, unlike Senator Scullion, do not hold important meetings for five minutes at a time in a stairwell."

"Senator Scullion's claim today that I was not present for a vote shows what an absolute tosser he is and highlights his total lack of knowledge as to how the Senate works."