Labor won't trade off principles: Dastyari

Labor would welcome Pauline Hanson's support for its policies but it's unlikely to actively woo her.

Senator Hanson and her three One Nation colleagues are a substantial bloc on the 11-strong Senate crossbench in the new parliament and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has already met the Queensland senator to discuss government policy.

"We will not compromise our principles and values as a Labor Party simply to get the support of someone like Pauline Hanson or One Nation," Labor's Senate business leader Sam Dastyari told ABC TV on Sunday.

But if Senator Hanson and One Nation happened to support the same position Labor held, the opposition would work with anyone within the Senate, he said.

"We will not horse-trade our principles and values and frankly I'm not sure that's a commitment that the government is prepared to give," Senator Dastyari said.

He noted the resurgence of debate about getting rid of some provisions in racial discrimination laws, which has attracted the support of some government backbenchers as well as senators on the crossbench despite no longer being coalition policy.