Nationals senator Ron Boswell says a system which allows someone with less than 2000 votes to become a senator is a miscarriage of democracy and needs fixing.
Senator Boswell said the preference swap dealing between minor and micro parties ahead of Saturday's federal election was not right.
"There is something terribly wrong with the system which allows people with 2000 votes, or even 1900 votes, taking a place in parliament," he told ABC radio.
"People think it is a complete miscarriage of democracy and it is."
Discussion of the Senate election process has surged following the election.
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Small parties attracted tiny numbers of votes but some are set to succeed because of agreements which allow preference harvesting to build up the necessary quota.
Senator Boswell said these parties played "keep off" to ensure preferences went to other minor parties ahead of major parties until one was elected.
He said it was totally wrong and needed fixing.
"It will require a parliamentary inquiry," he said.
"I have some ideas myself. But a person's vote should not be traded away."
Independent senator Nick Xenophon says the fundamental benchmark should be how voters feel about candidates being elected with tiny numbers of primary votes.
He says the system needs more transparency.
"Right now there is an enormous amount of power given to backroom operators whether from the major, the minor or the micro parties, where voters really don't know what's going on," he told ABC radio.
Senator Xenophon said it would be wrong to limit candidate numbers through a high nomination fee because that would only favour the rich.
An optional preferential system, where voters numbered only their top six candidates, would be better, he said.
