Jordon Steele-John was almost alone in the federal chamber on Tuesday night when he read out a list of dead Australians, more than one of them aged just seven.

Few senators were there to witness his tears as he struggled to read the names of those he said had died as a result of violence, abuse or neglect in institutional and residential settings.

"F---ing hell," the 23-year-old could be heard saying under his breath, as he tried to honour the dead through his tears.

Using parliamentary privilege, which gives MPs special protection to raise allegations publicly and with impunity, Senator Steele-John listed the names of 34 Australians who died in recent years. All of them had a disability.