Small Business Minister Craig Laundy had a crack at the behaviour of colleagues during a speech in parliament, only an hour after Speaker Tony Smith issued a warning during Question Time.

Mr Laundy said Australians should be proud of its politicians but instead people were put off by MPs tearing each other apart.

"We stand here and we assassinate the reputation of everyone. And I'm not surprised people are over it, I'm over it too," he said.

"We just want to throw barbs at either side of the chamber."

He said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had turned his back on his career to serve the public and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten should also be proud of serving his community.

Earlier the speaker warned MPs against making character assessments, following a description of Mr Turnbull as "snobbish" by Labor MP Julie Collins and others similar issues when parliament last sat.

"My personal view is this demeans the house," Mr Smith said.

"If it continues down this path the parliament will be demeaned and the public rightly will be quite dissatisfied."

Australian Associated Press