Changes to how the Human Rights Commission deals with complaints have been approved by the Senate.

The Turnbull government failed in its attempt to alter section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act but secured legislation to reform the commission's processes, with amendments.

"These are significant and material changes that will improve the operation of Australia's Human Rights Commission to avoid the abuses and the misuse of the commission that we have seen in the recent past," Attorney-General George Brandis told the upper house during a rare Friday sitting.