Greens, crossbench slam Senate stitch up

Greens and crossbench senators have accused the government and opposition of a "stitch up" over Senate terms.

Under a deal struck by the major parties, the first six senators elected in each state will get six-year terms while the remainder will be up for re-election in three.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said another way of determining the terms, the countback method, was fairer and more democratic but had been disregarded by the "Coles and Woolies of politics" because it better suited them.