The ABC's flagship discussion program Q&A consistently leans to the left and needs to include a more balanced selection of panellists, a Coalition senator has told ABC managing director Mark Scott during Senate hearings.

Liberal National Party senator James McGrath said during a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday there was a widespread view within the Coalition that the program is biased against the conservative side of politics.

"If you spoke to any Coalition MP – even those appear on it – they'd admit the program does lean to the left," Senator McGrath said.

"We have a flagship program here that consistently shows bias [against] those on the right or centre-right of politics.