Greens leader Bob Brown says a call for politicians to be paid the kind of salaries available in the private sector is muddle-headed.

Special Minister of State Gary Gray says the remuneration system should be overhauled with higher pay for politicians and the chance to exchange parliamentary entitlements for cash.

He says he took a massive pay cut when he quit his job at Woodside Petroleum to enter Parliament in 2007.

But Senator Brown says it is concerning that entitlements dedicated for electoral spending could end up in politicians' pockets.

"We have to be very careful about assuming that it's only money that gets you good politicians," he said.

"Politics is a job of dedication to the nation. It requires principle as well as money, and you can't buy principle like that."

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says parliamentary staffers should get a pay rise before politicians.

"They are working around the clock and what they are getting paid is completely unfair," he said.

"If you look at the work the staffers do in this place, they are unbelievable hours, incredible pressure, and I think that if anyone gets a pay rise first it should be the staff."

Opposition Senate leader Eric Abetz says the remuneration tribunal should continue to set politicians' pay.

But he says he is wary of politicians who oppose pay increases for political purposes.

"It's all very well for some people who might not have children, who might not have family responsibilities, who might not have home mortgages or school fees to pay, to try and sound high and mighty with the Australian people," he said.

"But other parliamentarians who do have those costs of living do have a very real burden."