Wayne Swan happy on the backbench

Wayne Swan insists he has no frontbench aspirations as he defends his decision to stay in federal parliament for another term.

There has been criticism inside Labor that the former treasurer is not making way for new blood by deciding to renominate for his Queensland seat of Lilley.

"I am passionate about the ideas that will make Australia a better place in the future," Mr Swan told ABC radio on Tuesday, adding he was happy to make a contribution from the backbench.