Australian Conservatives leader Cory Bernardi has asked the government how many genders they acknowledge in Senate Estimates this week.

While hearing government minister Matias Cormann as part of the Senate Standing Committee on Economics, Senator Bernardi asked “How many genders does the government consider exist?”

“Facebook says there’s fifty,” he continued.

Cormann, the government’s Senate Leader, said he was aware of two before declaring he would take the question on notice.

Last week it was revealed that the Australian Conservatives sole member in Canberra could be joined by former Australian Christian Lobby chair Lyle Shelton, who has put his hand up for a Queensland senate seat.

Watch the clip below.