Nationals Senator Ron Boswell says a discussion on second trimester abortions in cases of severe disability is reminiscent of the Nazis' views on eugenics.

A Senate committee examining the issue has called for better statistics to be gathered on the number of abortions performed in Australia.

Several senators have criticised a submission made to the committee by the parliamentary group on population and development, which includes politicians from all the major parties.

Queensland Nationals Senator Ron Boswell has attacked the submission's discussion of whether abortion should be available when there are signs of severe disability.

"Its underlying premise is that some lives are worth less than others because they will cost too much to support," he said.

"This is the kind of thinking that was typical of the Hitler regime.

"They set themselves up as judge of who deserved to live and who deserves to die.

"This revisiting of eugenics principles is repugnant to a society that prides itself on the contribution of all."

Labor Senator Claire Moore chairs the parliamentary group on population and development and says she disagrees with Senator Boswell's interpretation of the group's submission.

"The intent was never to impugn or to make any comment about the cost, and making statements about people in our community," she said.