Labor's Penny Wong shrugs handshake snub

Labor senator Penny Wong has downplayed the controversy surrounding her decision not to shake hands with Liberal senator Simon Birmingham after a live debate.

Labor's Penny Wong has shrugged off criticism of her refusal to shake hands with Trade Minister Simon Birmingham.

Senator Wong says she rebuffed the Liberal minister after he "played domestic partisan politics" about China during a televised debate in South Australia.

"We've got a good relationship, we sort of had robust exchanges over the years. He hasn't asked for an apology and I wouldn't expect him to," she told reporters in Queensland on Thursday.