As federal parliament returns from the Christmas break, the upper house's most senior official has warned the role of the Senate may be undermined if more funding isn't made available for staff struggling with huge workloads.
The incoming Clerk of the Senate Richard Pye says the record number of crossbenchers in the 45th parliament has his 160 staff swept off their feet.
The diverse views of the 20-strong crossbench - made up of nine Greens and 11 others - has meant extra demand on staff drafting amendments to legislation and private senators' bills.
It's also created a bigger interest in getting the views of the people on different issues, leading to a growing amount of Senate inquiries.
Almost 80 committee reports have been tabled since the new parliament commenced in August 2016.
There are 58 Senate inquiries underway and that number is likely to swell this week as senators refer more issues for inquiry following the lengthy break.
The Senate department has had two one-off increases in funding to cope with the heightened activity in the past two years, including an extra $3 million in 2016/17.
But it needs an ongoing increase if it's to cope with the growing workload, Mr Pye says.
"I really do think that you have to look at the volume of activity and wonder whether it's going to affect the quality of what is produced," he told AAP.
"It would be a real shame if what is the most effective scrutiny and accountability tool that we've got in the parliament became undermined by its inability to keep up with the demand that is made for its services."
Mr Pye says senators are constantly reminded of the workload of Senate staff.
"We can knock things out quite quickly but it's a question of the quality of it, and the question of whether it's properly reflecting senators' consideration of the submissions and evidence that is put before them on different matters."
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