Former Liberal prime minister John Howard has criticised the suspensions of three party members who urged reforms during interviews with the ABC's 7.30 program.

Former federal parliamentary secretary Ross Cameron, Charlie Lynn, who served in the New South Wales upper house for 20 years, and branch member Juris Laucis were suspended for calling for the Liberal Party's democratisation.

Key points: Ross Cameron, Charlie Lynn and Juris Laucis called for Liberal Party reform in 7.30 interview

Ross Cameron, Charlie Lynn and Juris Laucis called for Liberal Party reform in 7.30 interview The three were suspended

The three were suspended John Howard says the suspensions are excessive

John Howard says the suspensions are excessive Parramatta branch calls the suspensions "vindictive"

On Wednesday Mr Howard told 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones the suspensions were excessive.

"I think the executive is too heavy handed on these things and they ought to lighten up and understand that the public appreciates a bit of respectful debate," he said.

Mr Howard, prime minister from 1996 until 2007, also backed the push to allow party members a vote on candidates.

"I think the preselection process for choosing candidates in NSW is too narrow. I have long argued in favour of having plebiscites," he said.

Mr Howard also said the party was "too heavily influenced by factions" and risked losing members.

"At a time when fewer people join political parties and the membership is less representative of the people who vote for them at elections, there's a stronger case for giving everybody who's in the party a vote as to who the candidates should be," he said.

Parramatta branch condemns suspension

Dissension in Liberal ranks is growing over the suspension of the group, known as the 7.30 three.

All three are aligned with the right faction of the Liberal Party.

The Parramatta Central branch of the Liberal Party condemned the suspension of Ross Cameron, calling it "vindictive" and appealing to state executive of the NSW Liberal Party to reconsider the decision.

Mr Cameron is a member of the branch, which unanimously passed a motion opposing his suspension.

7.30 has seen a copy of the motion, which reads: "Parramatta Central branch rejects the disciplinary suspension of Ross Cameron, a fellow branch member and former Federal MP for Parramatta, from the party for six months and reiterates its belief in the democratic rights of its members to express their views without prejudice or persecution."

The motion suggests the suspension could damage the Liberal Party in what is widely expected to be an election year.

"Please reconsider the suspension of Ross Cameron from the party for 6 months as his experience and knowledge is valuable to the Parramatta conference in this election year," it said.

The acting state director of the NSW Liberal Party Simon McInnes has previously refused to discuss the suspensions, saying they are internal party business.