Muir 'got more votes than minister Cash'

Motoring Enthusiast Party senator Ricky Muir garnered more first preference votes at the 2013 election than cabinet minister Michaelia Cash, his crossbench colleague John Madigan says.

Senator Madigan lashed out at planned changes to the way Australians vote for senators on Tuesday, insisting they were being rushed through parliament for political reasons.

Senator Muir, who has become a poster boy for the case for changes after being elected on less than one per cent of the primary vote, received 479 first preference votes beating Senator Cash's 349 votes.

Senator Madigan said some senators from major parties, including Labor frontbencher Sam Dastyari, had never even faced voters at an election, having been selected by their parties to fill casual vacancies.

Bigger parties already had a major advantage, receiving millions in taxpayer funds for their election campaigns.

Labor is trying to stymie the government from fast-tracking debate on the draft laws, attempting to put it off until May 12 - a day after the final date a double-dissolution election can be called.

The opposition has twice tried and failed to send the bill to committees for inquiry until that date.

Labor frontbencher Jacinta Collins warned the changes could lead to the government gaining a Senate majority.

"The last time the government had a Senate majority we ended up with Workchoices," she said.

"Do you want to go back to the budget before last? Because that's what this legislation will deliver - it will deliver an environment where the Senate will have no control in the long term to be a brake on government excess."