Senators will no longer be able to spring on the types of motions used in the past to pressure the Morrison government to establish royal commissions into veteran suicides and abuse against disabled people after Thursday's vote.

The change will also prevent a repeat of Pauline Hanson's infamous "It's OK to be white" motion, which was widely condemned because of the phrase's association with white supremacists, alt-right and neo-Nazi movements.

Instead, senators will be able to use new speaking slots of up to two minutes to push their political views.

Leader of the Government in the Senate Simon Birmingham said motions were originally designed to allow debate on "non-controversial" topics, but had instead become the one of the most "divisive, dysfunctional and disorderly elements" of parliament.

"It has become a process where we have seen motions used for the purposes of race-baiting," he said during debate on Thursday.

"We've seen motions that are engaging in the most sensitive of conscience vote issues.

"We've seen motions in relation to complex foreign policy matters. We've seen significant policy questions that, frankly, cannot be simplified into a few sentences, yet senators attempt to do so in putting such motions."

Senator Birmingham noted parliamentarians would be able to speak on topics as "controversial as they wish" during the speaking slot.

The ban on controversial motions will be in place until at least the final sitting week of the year.

READ MORE

Labor's Katy Gallagher accused the Greens and independents of using the motions to score political points against the major parties.

The motions cannot be debated, with senators simply asked whether they agree or disagree. They are given about 24 hours' notice of the motion.

"Senators in this place are asked - without the opportunity to debate, without the opportunity to discuss - to get into either a yes or a no camp, without it even being explained why they're going there," Ms Gallagher said.

"Then that is weaponised, outside of this place, to attack other senators. That is exactly what it's about, and we know that's why you're angry."

WA Greens Senator Rachel Siewert reacted furiously to the change, describing it as an "act of bastardry" from the major parties.

She said motions were one of the most important "levers" to achieve change, having been used to intensify pressure on the government to establish royal commissions and take action on petrol-sniffing.

"Those are the sorts of things that have been achieved through using motions, because that is how you get pressure on the government and pressure on the opposition," she said.

"They don't want to be held accountable, and that's what this is about, folks."

Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie said a royal commission into veteran suicide would not have been established had it not been for her motions.

"When we put up motions, we want to see what side you are on," she said.

"I can tell you right now, if I hadn't been given those motions and pulled you guys up and put you in a corner, that Veterans Affairs department would be worse and would continue to get worse. There would not be any royal commission."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: