Parliament descended into a bitter row between Greens leader Cassy O'Connor and speaker Sue Hickey after Ms O'Connor said she was accused by Labor of being racist.

"Ms Haddad, whether consciously or unconsciously, is running a weaponised narrative," Ms O'Connor said.

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Ms Hickey soon cut her off, defending Ms Haddad's intention behind making the comments and accused Ms O'Connor instead of issuing a personal attack.

Ms O'Connor continued:

"She has accused me of the most grotesque motives," she said.

"When people stand up and speak out against the human rights abuses of the Chinese government, Madam Speaker, and they are accused of racism and xenophobia, it is an attempt to shut that criticism down."

Ms O'Connor then turned to Ms Hickey and criticised her of not calling out Ms Haddad's comments.

Ms Hickey said she did not find the Labor MHA's address insulting.

Tension between Ms Hickey and Ms O'Connor intensified shortly after with the latter pointing her finger aggressively towards the speaker.

Ms Hickey responded:

"That is most unparliamentary and it's a disgrace," she said.

"Who do you think you are? Sit down."

Ms O'Connor then stormed out of the chamber.

Labor frontbencher David O'Byrne on Friday said the party would soon decide on whether to refer the matter to Parliament's privileges committee.

He said Ms O'Connor had lost control on the floor of the house.

"That kind of behaviour should not be acceptable in any workplace, in any forum," he said. "Debates need to be civil. Yes, there are differences of opinion, but it doesn't justify someone losing complete control."

Ms O'Connor said Labor could not distinguish between the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people.

"In falsely and slanderously accusing me of racism, they are running the Chinese Communist Party's talking points designed to shut down its critics," she said.

"This is called a weaponised narrative and it is dangerous."

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