One Nation wants airport security screenings to target immigrants from the Middle East, accusing the federal government of prioritising political correctness over Australian lives.

The Senate on Monday is debating legislation to strengthen aviation security by allowing random screening of airport workers with access to passenger aircraft, as well as their vehicles, in airside areas.

"According to the government a law-abiding Christian Australian from Toowoomba is considered equally likely to be an airport security threat as the killer of Curtis Cheng," One Nation's Malcolm Roberts told parliament.

Senator Roberts said a "surprising" number of airport workers were Muslims or other recently arrived immigrants.

He tried, but failed, to amend the legislation to force targeted rather than random screening, prioritising people profiled as members of high-threat groups.

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Both the government and opposition rejected the changes, copping a barrage of insults from Senator Roberts.

"To those senators for whom folding like umbrellas in the face of every squawking minority has become a way of life, we urge you to take the next evolutionary step and join the ranks of the vertebrates," he said.

"Only One Nation has the guts to say the things that need to be said and to do the things that need to be done."

Senator Roberts said it was "absurd" the legislation, which cleared parliament on Monday morning, pointed out that all people had the right to be treated equally.

"Genuflecting to the political correct nonsense" meant resources would be spread too thinly and potential terror threats would be missed, he said.

Cabinet minister Fiona Nash said airport workers would be afforded the same protections as passengers to ensure they were not subject to discrimination based on their race or religion.

The new measures would be rolled out at Australia's highest risk airports over the next year, she said.