Greens leader Richard Di Natale doesn't expect plans to reinstate the building watchdog will come before the Senate this week, despite a crossbench move to force debate.
The government secured an agreement with the Greens to push through Senate voting reforms in the final parliamentary sitting before the budget and Senator Di Natale expects that to take the whole week.
But crossbench senator Ricky Muir will on Tuesday try to force the coalition to choose between that agreement and its desire to bring back the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
He'll put forward a motion to immediately bring on debate on the ABCC, which if supported, would make it difficult to also pass the Senate reforms in three days.
Senator Muir believes he's handing the government a vote on the ABCC, after continuous threats by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that the failed bill could be used to dissolve parliament.
"I'm handing the ABCC bills to them on a silver platter," he told ABC radio on Monday.
"I'm offering for them to be able to debate their cornerstone legislation."
The Motoring Enthusiast Party senator believes if the government votes against his move on Tuesday it would make it hard to press for a double dissolution election on the issue.
But the Greens, who oppose the ABCC bill, believe the Senate reforms are vital to ensure a more democratic voting system for the upper house.
"We made it clear we don't support extending hours to do anything other than debate the important issue of Senate voting reform and we won't do anything to bring on the ABCC legislation," Senator Di Natale told ABC on Monday.
His party also won't be helping the government gag debate and rush to a vote.
"I expect the whole week will be taken up with it," he said.
Should the upper house again reject the ABCC bill, the government would have a more up-to-date trigger to call a double dissolution election.
A trigger already exists on legislation to tighten controls over unions, called the registered organisation bill.
Senator Muir denies he is trying to save his own seat, insisting electoral reforms need to be discussed in more detail.
"If a country boy from Gippsland is able to come up with some amendments it goes to show that the bill hasn't been thought out as much as what it should be."
Mr Turnbull has urged crossbench senators to pass the ABCC bill, saying if they did the government wouldn't be talking about a double-dissolution election.
Labor are expected to try to disrupt the passing of the Senate voting reforms.
Crossbencher Nick Xenophon wants the upper house to deal with Senate voting reform and the ABCC bill this week and is happy to sit extra hours to get both to a vote.
"I've packed enough clothes to be here at least until next Sunday night or Monday morning," he said, but would not say if Senator Muir's motion had his support.
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