UPDATE: Lambie apologises over Hughes tributes interruption

Outspoken senator Jacqui Lambie has apologised to the family of cricketer Phillip Hughes for a misunderstanding during Senate tributes.

In her eagerness to hijack the government's agenda in the final days of the parliamentary year, Senator Lambie cut short a move to honour the gifted young cricketer who died last week.

It was the first time the senator had moved such a motion.

She said the "slight confusion" was being used against her.

"I thought Phillip Hughes's condolence motion was finalised," she said in a statement on Wednesday, while describing the tributes as "magnificent and inspirational".

Senate President Stephen Parry was also of the view the tributes had wrapped up, she said.

The former soldier was trying to suspend all business to bring on debate on her defence pay bill that links wage increases to those of politicians or CPI - whichever is greater.

After a few moments of confusion, the Senate agreed to finalise its tributes to Hughes with a minute's silence.

Labor supported Senator Lambie's move to suspend other business to bring on the ADF pay bill for debate but it fell over 34-33.

The government greeted Senator Lambie's move with hostility, initially denying her the right to speak.