What's shaping up to be a spirited opening session of parliament will kick off with a church service on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will join other MPs at the traditional launch of the parliamentary year ahead of the first question time for 2016.
Having received the final report of the unions royal commission, the government will reintroduce laws to restore the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
However, with Labor and the Greens firmly opposed to the watchdog on the grounds that it unfairly singles out one industry, the coalition will have to win over six of eight Senate crossbenchers.
Mr Turnbull is expected to meet some crossbenchers this week to gain their support for government bills and discuss their priorities for the year.
The prime minister will also take their pulse on potential areas for budget savings and tax reform.
Labor is keeping up the pressure on the government over the growing prospect of the GST rate being raised to 15 per cent.
Mr Shorten says it's a lazy way of raising money and will increase inequality.
The Nationals will also be in the spotlight as speculation rises about leader Warren Truss announcing his retirement from politics and deputy Barnaby Joyce succeeding him.
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