Federal politicians from the deputy prime minister down have conceded Australians are frustrated with what's being labelled the Canberra circus.
The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday depicted Barnaby Joyce, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, his predecessor Tony Abbott, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and crossbench senators Pauline Hanson and Nick Xenophon as a bunch of clowns.
"I can understand the frustration people have that this is turning too much into celebrity, " Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce told ABC radio.
"Let's do our job, I understand that ... and I take it on the chin."
Nationals backbencher Damien Drum said people in his Victorian rural seat of Murray were thoroughly sick of politicians.
"They're sick of politicians putting their snouts in the trough," he told reporters at Parliament House.
Labor frontbencher Amanda Rishworth said it was understandable people would be frustrated with some of the decisions the Turnbull government had made.
"What the Australian people want to see is politicians getting on and doing their job, representing them in this place," she said.
Her opposition colleague Joanne Ryan linked the frustration to the Fair Work Commission's decision to cut some penalty rates.
"They'll really be thinking that Malcolm's a clown if he does't stand up for them," she said.
Greens senator Nick McKim said community frustration was understandable.
"I've never seen a more toxic political environment than I am seeing now," he said.
"Ultimately, the major issue is between the growing inequality between people who are doing it tough and the elites in this country."
Liberal senator Jane Hume doesn't agree with the characterisation of parliament as a circus big top.
"I think it's a terrific place."
