Accusations of racism in the Senate have come to the fore, with a motion by Pauline Hanson to refer Fatima Payman for an investigation over an alleged section 44 citizenship issue, resulting in Lidia Thorpe throwing papers at the controversial Queensland Senator.

Senator Hanson, who this month was found guilty of breaching 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act for racist post regarding NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi, claimed in parliament that Senator Payman - who was born in Afghanistan - hadn't provided enough documentation to prove she had revoked her citizenship.

Afghanistan is now run by the Taliban and Senator Payman is unable to go back to her country of birth.

A procedural vote took place to decide if Senator Hanson could table the papers regarding her referral, which was supported by both the Government and the Opposition.

Both Labor's Katy Gallagher and the Liberal's Anne Ruston said this was to expedite the procedural issue rather than necessarily in support of Senator Hanson's motion itself.

Photos from the Senate showed shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash sitting next to and laughing with Senator Hanson.

The Greens, Senator Thorpe, and Senator Tammy Tyrrell voted against the motion.

Senator Thorpe, who along with Senator Faruqi, called on the Senate procedure committee to investigate racism in parliament, labelled the "attack" by Senator Hanson on Senator Payman, "violent and disgusting," declaring it was "bold-faced racism at its most vile".

She said she was left "shaking and feeling sick afterwards," as were other Senators of colour.

"It's a clear example of why we need much better standards around racism in parliament, which can be such a violent, racist place," Senator Thorpe said.

"We wouldn't accept racism like this in any other workplace, and we shouldn't accept it in parliament. We need to set a much better example and standard for the rest of the country."

Speaking in the Senate afterwards, Senator Payman said Senator Hanson was "vindictive, mean, nasty" and brought "disgrace to the human race".

"Senator Hanson has worn the burqa in this place. Maybe it's time that she pack her burqa and go to Afghanistan and talk to the Taliban about this," she said.

"I kept on giving you the benefit of the doubt, Senator Hanson, despite your repetitive attempts to be racist to anyone who does not look like you."

After withdrawing her comments about racism after a request from Senator Hanson, Senator Payman added: "How do you live with yourself, Senator Hanson, with so much bile and hatred?"

Senator Hanson, who was not censured for her tweet against Senator Faruqi, claimed the Greens were running a "protection racket" concerning Senator Payman and asked: "Why is someone being treated totally different than every other senator in this place?"

"If she'd [Senator Payman] been elected in 2016 instead of 2022, she would have been referred to the High Court like all the others. If she'd been elected as a conservative in 2022, I suspect she'd be referred right away," she said.

Senator Thorpe, who threw papers at Senator Hanson and walked out holding up her middle finger as someone in the Senate could be heard yelling "you're disgusting" towards the Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman, referred to the lack of a censure motion against Senator Hanson for her racially discriminatory tweet, in contrast to one against her and Senator Ralph Babet last week.

"When it comes to Hanson we're talking about a convicted racist here, she said.

Despite the court finding that the Queensland Senator racially vilified Senator Faruqi, Senator Thorpe said the Senate "still refused to censure" her.

"She is given free rein in the Senate to continue her racism and violence," she said.

Citing an anti-racism report from the Australian Human Rights Commission on Tuesday, she added: "The government needs to take this issue much more seriously. They must fully fund and implement all the recommendations made by the Race Discrimination Commissioner and support the inquiry that Senator Faruqi and I have called for."

"The Race Discrimination Commissioner has said a federal Truth-Telling process is an essential part of tackling racism in this country. Labor has backed away from their commitment to Truth-Telling. They must recommit to this."