Prime Minister Tony Abbott says there will be issues negotiating with Clive Palmer and his senators, and has fired a warning shot across the bow of the Titanic II developer.
The Palmer United Party (PUP) looks set to have three senators in the new-look upper house and Mr Palmer could still win a lower-house seat.
Once new senators take their seats next July, the government will need the backing of PUP and other crossbench senators to pass legislation if there is opposition from Labor and the Australian Greens.
"There's no doubt that there will be a few management issues," Mr Abbott told Macquarie Radio about negotiating with Mr Palmer, adding all senators would need to be treated with respect.
"Hopefully people like Clive will have learnt the lesson of the last parliament which is, if you get elected as a conservative and then act like a socialist, you get punished by the electors."
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Mr Abbott thought the most interesting aspect of the September 7 election - which will lead to a number of micro-party representatives - was the Greens losing their balance-of-power role in the Senate.
Greens leader Senator Christine Milne replied by saying Mr Abbott would face a steep learning curve if his new-found need for respect only extended to the conservative side of politics.
"I wonder what the rest of Australia thinks about Prime Minister Abbott taking credit for the bizarre make-up of the new Senate," Senator Milne said.
The Greens still haven't give up hope of snaring one last Senate spot off the PUP.
The declaration of the senate result in Western Australia has been postponed while the electoral commissioner decides whether to grant an appeal by Greens senator Scott Ludlam and allow a recount.
Senator Ludlam wants a partial recount after a 14-vote difference between micro-parties, the Shooters and Fishers Party and Australian Christians, handed a third senate seat to the PUP.
The Australian Electoral Commission denied the initial request but is considering an appeal.
Senator Ludlam argues a recount should be ordered given the wafer-thin margin could alter two Senate seats.
