Shorten gives Speaker nod to moderate Libs

Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten says whoever is chosen as Speaker of the parliament, they better not be a political warrior.

Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten doesn't mind which Liberal MP gets picked as Speaker of the parliament as long as they are not a political warrior.

The opposition leader has given tacit backing to Liberal moderates Tony Smith and Russell Broadbent, saying either would be good for the coveted job.

"What I don't want to see in a Speaker is a political warrior, partisan in nature," Mr Shorten told ABC radio in Melbourne on Thursday.