The Turnbull government has fast-tracked legislation to reinstate the building industry watchdog, insisting it has a clear mandate to rid the sector of thuggery.
The coalition used its slim majority to push its Australian Building and Construction Commission bills through the lower house on Tuesday, but still faces a battle in the Senate.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull summed up debate on the legislation likening construction union behaviour to "something scripted for the Godfather or the Sopranos."
The legislation sent the nation to July's double dissolution election and passed the lower house for a third time 76 to 69.
The government truncated debate to just three speakers, arguing members' views had been aired during the first two attempts to get it through.
It comes after a public spat with Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm, who threatened to hold the government hostage over a deal on gun imports he claims it reneged on.
Mr Turnbull insists there is "no chance at all, no prospect whatsoever" of his government weakening Australia's strong gun laws.
Senator Leyonhjelm says Justice Minister Michael Keenan promised him an importation ban on a seven-shot version of an Adler lever-action shotgun would end after 12 months.
"They did a deal with me and then they welshed on it," Senator Leyonhjelm told reporters.
"Until this is solved my relationship with the government is going to be difficult."
Mr Turnbull used video of a construction union official's threatening behaviour on a Commonwealth Games building site on the Gold Coast to bolster his case.
He believes there's no doubt his government has a mandate for the legislation after being reinstalled in July.
"And those opposite will be showing their contempt for that democratic outcome if they persist in the obstruction of these bills," he said.
"We all know criminality is rife in this sector."
Labor maintains the industry already has massive oversight from rigorous laws.
The coalition is negotiating with the crossbench to pass the bill through the Senate, including with Senator Leyonhjelm.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon - who leads a team of three - argued the construction watchdog would not be credible unless it also dealt with the plight of subcontractors when building contractors collapsed.
The legislation can't come before the Senate until the next sitting session on November 7, with senators tied up in committees this week.
