Former Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon has clashed with colleagues over support for a plan to strip judges accused of serious misconduct of taxpayer-funded pensions, warning the legislation could prompt the abolition of politicians' benefits in future.

Speaking during a meeting of the Labor caucus at Parliament House on Tuesday, the Hunter MP said the bill put forward by crossbencher Rex Patrick would appear as payback against disgraced High Court judge and royal commissioner Dyson Heydon.