(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
A vote on the carbon tax repeal bills may now have to wait until the Senate debates the repeal of the mining tax, abolition of the Climate Change Authority and establishment of the Asset Recycling Fund.
The government had flagged it would fast track a package of repeal bills through the upper house today.
But they were moved from the chamber's program, because it couldn't get the crossbench to agree on a timetable to debate the bills.
The government is also in negotiations with crossbench Senators about other legislation it wants to clear before a five week break from sittings.
It is proposing the Senate continue sitting past Thursday until the upper house has voted on the carbon tax repeal and other legislation.
Amanda Cavill reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
The government says it is still hoping to get its carbon tax repeal legislation through this week, as well as other legislation.
Also on the list is legislation removing foreign ownership and other restrictions from Qantas.
Clive Palmer has agreed that his party's three Senators will pass the carbon tax repeal bill after striking an agreement with the government.
"We've provided amendments that there will be a notification to every consumer of what their electricity price was, what it is now and what it's come down by and this way we think we've held the Prime Minister and the government to account to make sure that all Australians have got the right to know and they know exactly how it's affected everyone."
Opposition leader Bill Shorten says the impact of the repeal legislation will be long lasting and devastating, but has vowed to continue fighting to tackle climate change in other ways.
"We will never surrender to this PM's bullying denialism and his Government's extremism. Sadly, Mr Deputy Speaker, we have run out of time to deal with climate change. The decisions made by us, the elected representatives of the people, over these final six years of this critical decade for climate action, will have an irrevocable impact on the quality of life of future generations."
Meanwhile Clive Palmer is facing a political storm of his own making.
He has been referred to the President of the Senate for allegedly shouting at female staff trying to help re-draft his flawed carbon tax repeal amendments last Thursday.
Clerk of Senate Dr Rosemary Laing had informed the party that one Palmer United Party amendment was unconstitutional - advice that Mr Palmer disputed.
Mr Palmer has the denied the reports that he shouted at Dr Laing but says he did threaten to take her to the High Court.
He says the Clerk shouldn't be allowed to interfere with legislation.
"She can't interfere and stop them from doing it, that's what it boils down to. Otherwise you get a bureaucrat being able to veto legislation and we don't want that. That's what happens in Stalinist Russia. She's inconsequential to us as what she thinks. Our party will always want to put things that we decide not what the clerks decide. She's not a member of our party. She hasn't been elected to Parliament. She's employed by the Parliament to draft legislation in accordance with instructions - and she can't really refuse those instructions, I don't believe. If that's her job, well, she has to get out of that job."
Senators have leapt to Dr Laing's defence.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says the remarks are the hallmark of a bully and Mr Palmer should be ashamed of himself.
"Clive Palmer's remarks about the clerk of the Senate are cowardly, they are unwarranted and Clive Palmer should apologise. He simply doesn't know what he's talking about and he is diminishing himself rather than diminishing the institution of the Senate. His attack on the clerk of the Senate, someone who cannot defend herself because of the protocols attached to that position, is nothing short of cowardly."
Democratic Labor Senator John Madigan says he's distressed by Mr Palmer's attack on Dr Laing.
"I'm very concerned about reports about Mr Palmer's comments about the Clerk of the Senate and the Senate staff, who I must say in the three years that I've been here, are impartial, very professional, and they offer you impartial advice and they keep confidences. This attack, a personal attack, on Rosemary Laing is uncalled for and sets a very bad precedent."
Greens Leader Christine Milne says it is appalling a leader of a political party is showing disrespect and contempt for the clerk's professionalism.
Labor Senator Lisa Singh says Mr Palmer's criticism of the clerk is unwarranted.
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