The Senate has given the go-ahead to a wide-ranging inquiry into Australia's family law system, despite criticism from anti-violence campaigner Rosie Batty that appointing One Nation leader Pauline Hanson as a deputy chair would bias the probe.

Key points: Anti-violence campaigner Rosie Batty says the inquiry is "procrastination" on addressing family violence issues

Anti-violence campaigner Rosie Batty says the inquiry is "procrastination" on addressing family violence issues Pauline Hanson says the inquiry should examine claims of women lying about domestic violence in custody disputes

Pauline Hanson says the inquiry should examine claims of women lying about domestic violence in custody disputes Inquiry head Kevin Andrews says he is open minded about where the inquiry will go

The inquiry, which was criticised by anti-domestic violence groups after being announced on Tuesday, will examine the family court system, along with child support, and a proposed merger between the Family Court and the Federal Circuit Court.

Senator Hanson, who has been a vocal proponent of an inquiry, made comments on Wednesday suggesting women make false accusations of domestic violence to stop men having access to children, arguing the issue should be examined by the inquiry.

Ms Batty called out those remarks, saying the One Nation leader's comments were "incredibly damaging", and proof the senator "already has an agenda".

"Obviously there are some women who do abuse the system, but overwhelmingly we know that one woman a week is being murdered at the hands of a violent man," she said.

"The court system needs to listen and put the safety of children first. We need a system with specialised knowledge [and] that means we have to have specialisation in the court process that doesn't currently exist."

Ms Batty said she feared the inquiry would not be balanced in its approach with Senator Hanson and former social services minister Kevin Andrews at its helm.

"I have strong issues about who is heading up this inquiry," she said.

"It cannot possibly be an unbiased inquiry with these two people heading it up."

The joint parliamentary inquiry was announced on Tuesday amid criticism the system was failing vulnerable Australians.

Labor on Wednesday said it would vote against the creation of the inquiry, however a motion for its establishment was passed by the Senate with the support of the crossbench.

Senator Hanson, who has long campaigned for the move, said in a radio interview that some women were making false domestic violence claims against their partners in custody disputes.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 14 seconds 1 m 14 s Pauline Hanson says women fabricate domestic violence allegations

"Those people are using these threats or these domestic violence orders to support their case, why that parent shouldn't see the children," she said.

"I think that is so wrong.

"This is why we're having the inquiry."

Inquiry about 'listening': PM

Ms Batty also criticised the Government for announcing the inquiry before it had responded to the recommendations of an Australian Law Reform Commission review of the system, released earlier this year.

It recommended sweeping changes, including scrapping the current Family Court, and giving the states the power to judge such cases — a suggestion rejected by the Government, which wants to merge the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court in a bid to ease delays.

"This is just complete procrastination, or doing some kind of political deal with Pauline Hanson," Ms Batty said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 31 seconds 1 m 31 s Anthony Albanese says Pauline Hanson's comments 'of real concern'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended the inquiry, arguing it was a chance to hear from Australians from all over the country with experience of the family law system.

"This isn't about picking sides, it's about listening to Australians," he told Channel Seven.

"The lawyers have had their say through the Law Reform Commission and that's a process which has been important. But as we consider that, I think it's very important that we go and hear [from people] directly."

Labor leader Anthony Albanese criticised the Government for giving Senator Hanson a central role in the inquiry.

"We can't support an inquiry in which he [Mr Morrison] has unilaterally, along with Pauline Hanson, done a deal," he said.

"Bipartisanship in this Parliament is about Government and Opposition, it's not about Government and One Nation."

The inquiry will be chaired by Mr Andrews, who said he was not approaching it with any "fixed ideas".

"I'm sure we'll hear stories from various parties about what they allege to be failings within the system and at the end of the day, hopefully on a bipartisan basis, we can examine all that and consider it and if there is some improvements that can be made, to suggest them to the Parliament and to the Government," Mr Andrews said.

"One of the paramount principles of the Family Law Act is the best interest of the child. But whether or not that's being fulfilled in a way which is satisfactory to everybody at the present time is really one of those issues we'll have to look at."