Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has been suspended by the Senate until the end of Thursday—the last scheduled sitting day of the year.

It was alleged the Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung Senator has caused tension amongst fellow Senators for a number of interruptions in the parliament in recent weeks.

Labor leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, claimed Senator Thorpe had engaged in "aggression" and "hateful personal attacks" in recent weeks.

On Wednesday, she tore up paper and threw it at Pauline Hanson after the Queensland Senator - who has been convicted of breaching the Racial Discrimination Act - questioned the citizenship of WA Senator Fatima Payman.

Senate President Sue Lines said Senator Thorpe's behaviour was "not acceptable" and that such behaviour "will not be tolerated".

Senator Thorpe was not in the Senate as her colleagues debated whether she should be suspended.

Senator Wong said she had told Senator Thorpe it would be "in [her] interest to attend the Senate" to explain her conduct, but she had declined.

She alleged there had been "multiple instances of Senator Thorpe making inappropriate, sometimes abusive comments towards other senators".

Senator Wong accused Senator Thorpe of having "increasingly engaged in such behaviour", and argued all senators should be treated with respect in order for parliament to operate in the interest of all Australians.

She also argued Senator Thorpe had caused distress to other First Nations senators, without specifying details.

"Despite attempts to work with Senator Thorpe, she has been increasingly been engaging in this behaviour," Senator Wong said.

The motion passed overwhelmingly, 46-11, with only the Greens opposing.

Coalition Senate leader Simon Birmingham said the motion was a "line in the sand" moment, arguing Senator Thorpe had "crossed a line" in her actions earlier on Wednesday.

He accused the Greens of a "shameful double standard" in opposing the suspension motion.

Greens Senate leader Larissa Waters said the party didn't support the Senator Thorpe's behaviour or physical violence, but said the Greens didn't believe suspending her for a whole day was a "proportionate and appropriate response".