Prime Minister Tony Abbott says parliament could sit for longer this year so the government can repeal the carbon and mining taxes, raise the debt ceiling and restore temporary protection visas.
Mr Abbott made the threat, which is designed to put pressure on Labor and the Australian Greens to back his legislative agenda, at a joint party room meeting in Canberra on Tuesday.
"If that means we have to keep the parliament sitting, we will just have to do it," Mr Abbott told MPs.
The prime minister wants the key pieces of legislation passed before December 31 at the absolute latest, meaning the coalition could make parliament sit over Christmas if warranted.
Parliament is currently due to rise for the summer break on December 12 and not sit again until February next year.
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The first available time for any extra sitting would be the week starting December 16.
