Former minister for social services Kevin Andrews announced six new members to the council days before Christmas last year, in one of his last acts in the social services portfolio.

But Professor Andrew Jakubowicz, from the University of Technology Sydney, has raised concerns about the way in which their appointments were made.

Professor Jakubowicz said the appointments lacked transparency, with no public call for expressions of interest, while at least three of the six members had "close links" to the Liberal Party.

"Under the previous government, the council's membership was drawn from a public call of expressions of interest ... this time around, however, there was no public call, and the appointments process was even less transparent," he wrote in an article in The Conversation website.

One member, Vasan Srinivasan, a property consultant, is the founder and chairman of the Victorian Multicultural Liberal Business Club, which has hosted at least one gala dinner for federal and Victorian Liberal politicians.

Another member, Charlotte Vidor, is a multimillionaire from the hospitality and property development industries, whose family donated $25,000 to the Liberal Party in 2010-11.

Professor Jakubowicz has also raised concerns about the political affiliations of the council chairman, Dr Sev Ozdowski, a Howard-era Human Rights Commissioner.

But Social Service Minister Scott Morrison defended the appointments, saying he supported them all and looked forward to working with them.

"Criticisms of their appointments represent nothing more than cheap political shots that disrespect the significant contributions that these appointees have made and will continue to make to our country, including in these new roles," Mr Morrison said.

"Vasan is a significant figure in the Indian community in Victoria, having held numerous positions, including where he played a highly constructive role with the then Victorian state Labor government at a time when there was serious unrest in the community following some violent assaults on Indian students several years ago.

"Charlotte Vidor is part of a highly successful immigrant family who have made a significant contribution to this country."

"Sev's record speaks for itself, both personally from his own immigrant history … and during his time at the Human Rights Commission, where he was constructively critical of the Howard government on children in detention."

Dr Ozdowski said he did not actively support any party.

"I was Human Rights Commissioner and conducted an inquiry into children in immigration detention, which was very highly critical of the Howard government," he said.

"If you look at my public life I'm impeccable in terms of being fair and non-political."

Mr Srinivasan and Ms Vidor could not be contacted.

Shadow minister for multiculturalism Michelle Rowland said she was concerned about the appointments.

"New Minister for Social Services Scott Morrison has some serious questions to answer regarding these appointments to the AMC," Ms Rowland said.

"Labor will be lodging questions to Minister Morrison on the selection process, links with the Liberal Party and the functioning of the AMC."

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this story has been amended to make clear comments by Professor Jakubowicz were first published on The Conversation website.