Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been accused of blackmail after warning of an early election if union laws are again rejected by the Senate.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been accused of blackmail after he vowed to dissolve both houses of parliament if the Senate rejects laws to tackle union corruption.
Parliament will be recalled on April 18 and given three weeks to deal with two government bills previously rejected by the Senate.
If senators reject, amend or fail to pass the bills to restore the building and construction watchdog and impose higher penalties for union corruption, there will be a double-dissolution election on July 2.
"I feel as though it is a threat," independent senator Glenn Lazarus told reporters in Brisbane.
"But I'm not going to be blackmailed or bullied into making a decision."
Fellow independent Nick Xenophon warned the ugly scenes witnessed in the Senate last week following a marathon fiery debate on changes to the way Australians elect senators would be nothing compared to what's to come.
"If last week was pretty ugly, this debate will be even uglier," he said.
"It's a very nifty and cunning manoeuvre on the part of the PM but I expect it's going to cause fireworks in the Senate."
With Labor and the Greens opposed to the legislation, the government needs the support of six crossbenchers.
So far, only Family First senator Bob Day has flagged his support.
