Pauline Hanson was asked by fellow senator Doug Cameron to apologise over a "racist rant", and told she does not deserve her seat in federal parliament.

The One Nation leader, fresh from announcing she would move to refer one of her own senators - Malcolm Roberts - to the High Court over his eligibility, launched a tirade against Muslim Australians in the senate.

She accused major political parties of hiding evidence of high unemployment and social welfare dependence among Muslims.

Instead of working or joining the Australian Defence Force, Muslims preferred to "fight for ISIL in Syria and Iraq", she said.

"Australian Muslims are a significant drain on the public purse," she told parliament.

She accused Labor of making a decision to "sell its soul for the Muslim vote".

Labor politicians held onto 15 federals seats with Muslim populations of 10,000 or more, according to the One Nation leader.

"A small but fast growing group opposed to our way of life is bending Labor to its will."

Labor frontbencher Doug Cameron was due to speak about homelessness following a speech by Senator Hanson on Wednesday, but changed his mind, insisting it was important he challenged her "racist nonsense".

Senator Cameron said Muslims were doing more for Australia than Senator Hanson was.

"Muslims make contributions to this country that you will never make," he told the chamber.

Her "rubbish speech" risked the cohesion of Australian society, he said, calling for her to apologise.

"That racist speech, that speech that will divide Australia, and make us a poorer nation," he told parliament.

"You do not deserve to be in here, running that sort of racist nonsense."

Senator Hanson had started her speech by claiming to be a supporter of migrants coming to Australia.

"I am not anti-migrant," she said.

"One Nation supporters have a positive view of migrants when they are willing to become active citizens to work to make Australia a better place."