Crossbench senators claim to have had a "gutful" after being left with no time to scrutinise $6 billion in budget savings.
The Greens and independents are holding their own quasi-parliamentary inquiry into a government omnibus bill of measures which Labor agreed to support during the election campaign when under pressure to produce an acceptable budget bottom line.
Greens Leader Richard Di Natale can't believe one of the most significant bills of the new parliament won't be subject to a formal parliamentary committee inquiry process.
"The Australian public has been denied the opportunity to scrutinise that legislation and to ask questions about who will be affected," he said at the crossbench hearing in Canberra on Monday.
Independent Jacqui Lambie won't be supporting the legislation, saying government hasn't changed despite changing its leader.
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"I'm quite saddened that nobody from the Liberal party, at least, has tried to come round with a folder in their hands to sell this to the crossbench," she said.
Senator Lambie claimed the measures, which includes removing the so-called energy supplement of $4.40 a week, will hit struggling Tasmanians hard.
"It may just be a little bit of money to the people up here, but to those people down there it's their bread and milk for the week."
The senator was happy to work with the government on budget repair, but wants it targeted at the super rich and multinationals.
Senator Lambie said she has had a "gutful" of the government going after the most vulnerable people in society.
Fellow independent Derryn Hinch presumed senators would get time to scrutinise the measures, but instead were being "insulted".
Cuts to key renewable agency ARENA would stifle jobs and growth, he warned.
Independent Nick Xenophon said it was quite extraordinary there would be no public hearing into the bill.
"I haven't seen anything like it," he said.
"I hope that this hearing itself may be a bit of a wake-up call to other colleagues."
Witnesses to appear before the crossbench initiated inquiry include representatives from the Australian Council of Social Services, Clean Energy Technology and Children's Dental Care.
