Gray wants Labor to back senate changes

Labor frontbencher Gary Gray wants his party to back Senate voting reforms, warning the federal upper house could be open to manipulation and compromise.

The shadow special minister of state acknowledges there is divided views within the opposition, but says recommendations from a joint committee into voting changes should be adopted.

"Without these measures, our legislature, our Senate, is open to manipulation and it's open to compromise and as a consequence of that, good public policy, good budget measures, good governance is compromised," he told ABC TV on Monday.

He has called for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to pick up the phone to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to discuss the issue.