South Australia is pondering electoral changes for Legislative Council voting after the federal poll saw a strong showing for micro-parties.

Some small or relatively-unknown parties are set to gain seats in the Senate because of the complex distribution of preferences and despite getting only a fraction of the primary vote.

Both the Senate and the SA Legislative Council use the same voting systems.

Premier Jay Weatherill said the Senate voting last weekend raised the issue of whether a party should have to get a minimum number of votes before remaining in the race for an upper house seat.

"I think it does raise issues and I think we do need to reflect on what the response might be to this phenomena," he said.

"Obviously we're coming up to an election. I think we need to give some serious consideration as to whether this needs to be addressed prior to our next state election."

Attorney-General John Rau said changes could be made for the Legislative Council before next year's poll.

Mr Rau said he supported applying a minimum primary vote threshold for parties seeking election to the state upper house.

The Attorney-General said the Government would consult the Opposition, minor parties and the public ahead of making any changes.

"I think most thinking people in South Australia would be concerned about micro-parties ... gaining positions of significance where they can in effect hold up, interfere [with] or ransom governments," he said.

South Australians go to the polls next March.

Xenophon plans bill to change Senate voting

Re-elected South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon also is pushing for voting change.

Senator Xenophon plans to introduce a bill to Federal Parliament to change the Senate voting system.

"A better system would be to have only the below-the-line set-up, but not force voters to number every box," he said.

"If you go to an optional preferential system ... you take away the power of the backroom operators, these bizarre labyrinthine preference deals, and you give the power back to the voter and that's why we need to have a debate about that and that's why I'll be introducing a bill once Parliament resumes.

"It’s clear that the Senate voting system represents the will of the parties, not the people. Preferences have become so complex that it's impossible for people to know who they're really voting for."