Malcolm Fraser planning new party: MP

Former prime minister Malcolm Fraser was canvassing support for a new political party before his death, federal parliament has been told.

Opposition MP Warren Snowdon says Mr Fraser, who died last Friday aged 84, had been speaking to Labor supporters and party members about his new party.

During a condolence motion in the lower house for the one-time Liberal leader, Mr Snowdon said he had knowledge of a document about Mr Fraser's intentions to set up a party in the spirit of the two major parties.

The Labor backbencher later told AAP he understood the document was "some sort of manifesto" of the proposed party's values.