Derryn Hinch says phone running hot

Journalist-turned-politician Derryn Hinch says his phone has been running hot with the prospect of a divided Senate prompting politicians to call for a chat.

Mr Hinch appears set for election as a senator for Victoria.

He said in the past few days he had talked to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Attorney-General George Brandis, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.

"The phone's running hot," he told ABC radio.

He declined to reveal the contents of their conversations.

Mr Hinch said he didn't lean towards the coalition or Labor.

He said Mr Turnbull's election night speech was a disgrace, while Labor's Medicare privatisation scare was disgusting.

In the Senate he said he would take it issue by issue.

"On some I will support the government of the day, on some I will support the opposition," he said.