Crossbench senators will be able to see the entire confidential volume of a royal commission report as they decide whether to back the government's crackdown on union corruption.
But Employment Minister Michaelia Cash is refusing to show the contentious sixth volume to Labor and the Greens, or release it publicly, on the grounds it contains information about witnesses and could jeopardise police investigations.
The crossbench senators could be able to read the volume as early as this week, subject to strict confidentiality provisions.
"It will not be a redacted version," Senator Cash told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
The minister denied she was playing politics with the commission's report, saying crossbenchers wanted access to aid in their deliberations on re-establishing the building industry watchdog.
Labor has already said it won't back re-establishing the Australian Building and Construction Commission when the government reintroduces legislation into parliament on Tuesday.
"Why then they would need to have a look at the confidential volumes quite frankly is beyond me," Senator Cash said.
"Because are they suddenly saying they may change their position and support the government, I don't think so."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten instead has proposed his own reforms to crack down on worker exploitation, including tougher penalties for employers who underpay their staff.
Cabinet minister Kelly O'Dwyer says the best thing Labor can do to protect workers is to pass the government's legislation to have "someone on the beat making sure that people are not doing the wrong thing".
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie says she won't be supporting the government's latest move unless it rethinks changes to Medicare, which she fears will discourage women from visiting the doctor.
"I think (Senator) Cash is trying to pick a fight and she's not being reasonable and she wants disharmony," Senator Lambie, who voted against the legislation previously, told ABC radio.
Senator Cash hopes to have the draft laws passed as soon as possible.
"Certainly I would hope that the crossbench is able to sit down with me and discuss each piece of legislation on its own merits," she said.
If legislation to establish the building commission again fails to pass parliament it will provide the government with another double-dissolution trigger.
"Whether or not we call a double-dissolution is something for the prime minister to decide," Senator Cash said.
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Kate Carnell urged all senators to read even just the first volume of the royal commission's report.
"(The ABCC) has been in place in the past, worked in the past, and fairly obviously as the royal commission said what they found was just the tip of the iceberg," she said.
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