Pauline Hanson has accused a Malaysian-born Labor senator of 'playing the Asian card' after she took offence at a senior cabinet minister joking she was channelling the One Nation leader.

Penny Wong, a senior Labor frontbencher who has an Asian father, clashed with Finance Minister Mathias Cormann during a parliamentary estimates hearing today in Canberra.

The Liberal minister joked the Malaysian-born Opposition senator was 'channelling Pauline Hanson', who has called for a dramatic cut to Australia's immigration rate.

Penny Wong, a senior Labor frontbencher who has an Asian father, clashed with Finance Minister Mathias Cormann during a parliamentary estimates hearing today in Canberra

Senator Wong immediately took offence and cited Senator Hanson's maiden speech to parliament in 1996 where the former Ipswich fish-and-chips shop owner declared Australia was 'in danger of being swamped by Asians'.

'Actually, that's a little offensive. She thinks people like me were swamping Australia,' Senator Wong said.

'We don't channel Pauline Hanson. You're the ones who cozy up to her and let her write tax policy and government policy.

'Don't tell me I channel Pauline Hanson. I find that personally offensive.

'You should withdraw it. Someone Asian. "You're channelling Pauline Hanson?".'

The Liberal minister joked the Malaysian-born Opposition senator was 'channelling Pauline Hanson', who has called for a dramatic cut to Australia's immigration rate

Senator Hanson hit back at Penny Wong, telling Sydney radio 2GB presenter Ben Fordham the Labor politician was the one playing the race card.

'She finds it offensive? What a load of hogwash,' the One Nation leader said.

'I've heard her comments on the floor of parliament aboutmany different issues and she's playing the Asian card, she's playing the female card and I'm sick and tired of it.'

Senator Hanson hit back at Penny Wong, telling Sydney radio presenter Ben Fordham the Labor politician was the one playing the race card

Senator Hanson described Senator Wong as a 'great actress'.

'This is a great performance on her part,' she said.

Ben Fordham, who occasionally fills in as a Today show presenter on the Nine Network, said Senator Wong had displayed 'poor form'.

'Penny, you are not a protected species,' he told his 2GB listeners.

'You’re one of 226 politicians who sit in parliament and everyone has to be tough enough to handle the heat.'