Tony Abbott's senior advisers have copped strident criticism from a long-standing Liberal National Senator, who has accused them of having an "obsessive centralised control phobia" over Government business.

Queensland Senator Ian Macdonald made the comments in the Senate this morning in relation to the arrangements for an inquiry into the economy of northern Australia.

The former Howard government minister said he made numerous inquiries to the Prime Minister's Office about the inquiry's terms of reference, to no avail.

"Almost by accident... I discovered the terms of reference," he said.

"I was particularly disappointed, as my many inquiries to the Prime Minister's Office - who seem to almost have an almost obsessive centralised control phobia over this and every other aspect of parliament - responded to me when I kept enquiring that we 'Will let you know when the terms of reference are eventually decided'."

Mr Abbott's chief of staff, Peta Credlin, has been criticised by some in Coalition circles for having too much power over the everyday affairs of government MPs and Senators, including the selection of electorate staff.

Senator Macdonald, who was the shadow parliamentary secretary for Northern Australia in opposition but was dumped from the frontbench when the Coalition won office, says he is "incensed" by the PMO's handling of the issue.

Sorry, this video has expired Ian Macdonald slams PM's advisors for having 'obsessive control'

"Because I was not elected to this parliament by the Prime Minister's Office, but by the Liberal National Party of Queensland and by the voters of Queensland - particularly those in the north - I was incensed that the two things perhaps of the most importance to Queenslanders were missing from the terms of reference," he told the Senate.

"And that is a reference to actually have a look at the zoned tax system, which had been promised by the Coalition prior to the election, and some definitive program towards the sustainable development of northern Australia.

"I'll not have un-elected advisers in the Prime Minister's Office telling elected politicians, who are actually in touch with their constituencies, what should or shouldn't be done."

In September, Senator Macdonald expressed his disappointment at being dropped from Mr Abbott's frontbench on a social media site.

"What should have been one of the proudest days of my life has turned into one of the worst," he said.

"The ecstasy of a new government and success in the North has turned a little sad with a phone call from Tony Abbott saying he has no room for me in the new ministry."

Senator Macdonald has served in parliament for 23 years and was minister for regional services and minister for forestry under John Howard.