Coalition frontbencher Paul Fletcher has not denied he personally intervened in an independent Parliamentary inquiry, preventing it from recommending that unemployment payments be raised.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed on Wednesday that Mr Fletcher intervened in the Newstart inquiry before the May election to erase a bipartisan recommendation that the $40 a day payment be lifted.

Mr Fletcher, the Morrison government's former social services minister, said on Sunday he spoke to colleagues "all the time" and would not go into the details of private conversations.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

A key concern inside the government is raising the Newstart rate above the pay packets of first-year apprentices, which could be seen as a disincentive for some workers to join the workforce.