Tas senator 'knows preselection process'

Labor senator Lisa Singh has expressed disappointment at falling victim to a factional deal that relegates her to an unwinnable fourth position on the party's upper house state ticket for the 2016 election.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union secretary John Short will take the third Tasmanian spot behind substantive senators Anne Urquhart and Helen Polley, bringing a likely end to Senator Singh's term in 2017.

"Of course I was disappointed with the outcome ... it was always going to be difficult when a factional deal had been done," Senator Singh told reporters in Hobart on Saturday.

The former Tasmanian MP and member of national Labor's left faction said she knew the preselection process when she got into federal politics and that she is proud of her achievements.

"My record speaks for itself," Senator Singh said, adding that she will not consider a return to state politics.

Labor leader Bill Shorten on Saturday said Senator Singh has worked hard for the party, but he stood by the preselection process.

"It is inevitable in every engagement not everyone is successful in being able to get the spot that they want to be able to represent Labor," he said.