Liberal backbencher Andrew Nikolic is lining up to chair the Joint Intelligence Committee, but Labor says his “extreme right wing” views should disqualify him from the post.

The committee reviews all national security legislation that comes before Parliament, making more than 130 amendments to the Coalition's five tranches of national security laws in the last two years

Labor’s input on laws has been extremely helpful, as it allows many to win bipartisan support when they make it to the floor of Parliament..

Mr Nikolic is strongly rumoured to be the front-runner for the committee chair position, after serving for 31 years in the Army before entering Parliament.

He is regarded as a strong political ally of former prime minister Tony Abbott.

Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says the appointment would shatter the long-standing bipartisanship on national security.

“Bipartisanship is put at risk by Mr Nikolic, who has made his political career out of being a highly partisan, highly aggressive battler for extreme right wing views,” he said.

“Nothing in Mr Nikolic's language or behaviour or attitude or speeches in this Parliament have suggested that he is able to bring the necessary attitude of bipartisanship and negotiation to this important role.”

Mr Dreyfus believes Mr Nikolic was appointed to ease partyroom tensions within the LNP.

“What we'll be seeing is in fact turning a national security matter into a plaything of internal political machinations,” Mr Dreyfus said.

But the committee’s respected outgoing chair Dan Tehan does not have a problem with his replacement.

“Why are the Labor Party bringing this type of thing up?” he said on Thursday.

“What we need to be focussing on is the national security of the nation. I really think this is a pathetic attempt of cheap politics.

“[Mr Nikolic] has played a key role in the bipartisanship that we have seen on the committee

“Please give him a go, if that's the way the committee decides to go.”