Leaders of Australia's biggest businesses have blasted the nation's Senate as obstructive and demanded reform to restore order to government.

In a survey of chief executives of the country's biggest companies by the Australian Financial Review, numerous business leaders identified the senate and the power of cross bench senators in particular as a worrying development.

Richard Goyder warned that 'preference gaming' had led to the election of people on the back of very few votes.

Many called for longer terms of government to allow governments to implement meaningful reform.

"As it stands, there is policy chaos where individuals, with very small percentages of the vote, are driving narrow, vested agendas," said Lance Hockridge, chief executive of logistics company Aurizon.