The federal education minister denies coalition MPs were told not to rebuke Pauline Hanson over her controversial autism comments before a vote on the government's schools funding package.
The One Nation leader suggested students with autism be removed from mainstream classrooms because they were holding back other children's learning.
She was strongly criticised by Labor and the Greens, but Simon Birmingham denies coalition MPs were told to remain silent during final negotiations on the so-called Gonski 2.0 package.
"Absolutley not," he told ABC radio on Friday.
Senator Birmingham said he didn't agree with the way Senator Hanson put some of her remarks.
"But I absolutely respect the fact she voted for our reforms last night," he said.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull does not accept students with autism should be segregated from mainstream classrooms.
Mr Turnbull on Friday referred to the comments - without mentioning Senator Hanson's name - saying it was important children with disabilities were given the maximum opportunity to do their best in the classroom.
"I know there's been the suggestion there should be some sort of segregation - we do no accept that, we reject that," he told 2GB's Chris Smith.
