Coalition backed by Senate crossbench

Senate crossbenchers have been strong supporters of the coalition government, new figures show.

Since July, the Senate has comprised 33 coalition senators, 25 Labor, 10 Greens and eight minor parties and independents.

A study by consultants Hawker Britton said the three Palmer United Party senators and colleague Ricky Muir from the Australian Motoring Enthusiasts had voted with the government 53 per cent of the time.

Family First's Bob Day and the Liberal Democrats' David Leyonhjelm sided with the coalition on 91 per cent of votes.

Independents Nick Xenophon and John Madigan, who has quit the Democratic Labour Party, voted with the government on 19 per cent and 37 per cent of occasions respectively.

Out of 103 votes taken in the Senate, the government has won with crossbench support 37 times and gained Labor's support on 29 occasions.

Thirty-four votes were lost and three tied and negatived.