Labor and Coalition MPs united in the Senate late last night to increase secrecy around MPs expenses and the workings of parliament by rejecting Greens' amendments and voting in favour of a bill to exempt parliament from the scrutiny of freedom of information (FOI).

The Parliamentary Service Amendment (FOI) Bill will shield the Senate, House of Representatives and Parliamentary Services Department from the FOI Act completely and retrospectively.

The Senate has unanimously passed an Australian Greens resolution calling on the Government to make direct representations on behalf of jailed Bahraini human rights activist Mr Nabeel Rajab.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam thanked Senators for their concern for Mr Rajab.

"Mr Rajab is a prominent pro-democracy and human rights campaigner. He was arrested by Bahraini authorities on May 5 shortly after being interviewed by Australian journalist Julian Assange. We must now turn concern into action."

The Australian Greens have welcomed Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's long-overdue entry into parliament but urged the Australian Government and international community to remain vigilant on human rights in Burma.

Greens Burma spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said the by-elections that brought Aung San Suu Kyi and other National League for Democracy members into parliament elected only 45 of a possible 664 seats in Burma's legislature.

The Australian Government will undermine the democracy movement in Burma by encouraging bilateral trade too soon, the Greens warned today.

Greens spokesperson on Burma Senator Scott Ludlam said today's announcement that the Government is "normalising trade" with Burma is dangerously premature.