Senator Stephen Conroy wants to return to Labor's frontbench, saying he's got a role to play in holding the coalition to account from opposition.
Senator Conroy, a key ally of former prime minister Julia Gillard, quit as communications minister and Senate leader when Kevin Rudd took over the Labor leadership in June.
The senior Labor figure is planning a comeback, and says he'll be throwing his hat into the ring for Labor's frontbench.
"I've spoken to a range of my colleagues in the last couple of days since the election and indicated that I'll be a candidate for the frontbench," he told Sky News on Wednesday.
"I want to be part of holding Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull and Joe Hockey to all of their promises, and more importantly to the frauds they've been engaged in."
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Senator Conroy also dismissed suggestions Labor's next leader be determined by a split vote between the partyroom and its rank and file members.
Under new rules, if there are two or more candidates running for the leadership the outcome will be decided in a ballot weighted 50 per cent to the caucus and 50 per cent to grassroots party members.
Senator Conroy said the parliamentary Labor Party should have the right to pick and choose its leader.
"A parliamentary Labor leader cannot sustain their leadership if they do not have the support of a majority of their colleagues," he said.
"These rules that have been put in place will make us an absolute laughing stock."
He urged Labor to stop "gazing at our own navels" and get on with forming a leadership team and take the coalition to task.
