A Liberal backbencher has launched a scathing attack on the Greens in parliament over their "disrespectful" snub of Pauline Hanson.
The Senate was debating a private Greens marriage equality bill on Thursday when Linda Reynolds lashed the minor party for walking out of the chamber half way through the One Nation leader's first speech.
She was "deeply angered and greatly saddened" by their response to her "very passionate" speech.
Senator Reynolds said their behaviour was unprecedented and put great shame upon all senators in the chamber.
If they were so offended, they could have exited out the back rather than make a show of it, she said.
It highlighted what was wrong with the state of debate in Australia.
"So delicate were their ears they couldn't even stay and show respect to Senator Hanson, who was elected," Senator Reynolds said.
"What hope does freedom of expression have in our nation if those on the left will only ever listen to and tolerate their own truths?"
Senator Reynolds has linked the left side of politics to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels, arguing both were in favour of selective free-speech.
She wants the words "offend" and "insult" removed from section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, backing a private bill to water down the laws despite the prime minister insisting the government is not interested in the change.
The Greens have defended the walk-out, vowing to call out Senator Hanson's racism after she used her first speech to call for a halt to all immigration and warn Australia was in danger of being swamped by Muslims.
Greens senators also refused to congratulate One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts, a vocal climate change sceptic, after he made his first speech on Tuesday.
