Controversial senator Cory Bernardi says no amount of abuse against him from his former Liberal colleagues will force him out of parliament.
Senator Bernardi resigned from the Liberal Party last week to set up his own conservative party, drawing flak from other Liberals who believe he should resign from the parliament.
"People are just using this as an excuse to heighten or sharpen their pre-existing biases towards me," Senator Bernardi told Sky News on Sunday.
Senator Bernardi said attacking him was not logical when the coalition would need his support in the future to pass legislation.
He said his smarter former colleagues, while expressing disappointment, have said they want to work constructively with him.
"That's the logical and sensible path forward," Senator Bernardi said.
