Labor veteran urges Senate reform support

Labor veteran Jennie George finds it hard to fathom why her party has rejected Senate voting reform.

The coalition will rely on Greens support to pass new laws allowing preferential voting "above the line" on Senate ballot papers at the next election.

The Labor caucus on Tuesday voted to oppose the changes, having been briefed they would disenfranchise millions of voters who support minor parties and entrench coalition numbers in the upper house.

However, it is understood some caucus members were in favour of the reforms.

Ms George, a former federal Labor MP and ACTU president, told AAP on Wednesday she could not understand why the party "jettisoned" voting reform, having backed the changes two years ago when they were recommended by a parliamentary inquiry.

"Those recommendations were unanimous and bipartisan and everybody who follows the system knows that gaming of the system reached an all-time high at the last election," she said.

"The most important principle is one that gives power over electoral outcomes to the voters."

Labor could still seek to amend the bill, which was introduced to parliament on Monday, in order to better reflect the principle of empowering voters, she said.

"I find it hard to believe the Labor party would continue a system which allows backroom operatives to subvert the will of the Australian electors," Ms George said.

The parliament's electoral matters committee is meeting on Wednesday to decide on public hearings for an inquiry into the bill.