Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will use the coming fortnight of parliament sittings to clear the decks of last year's budget as he weighs up an early election.
His new deputy, Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce, does not expect there will be an election before July, but says in the end it is up to the Senate.
"If it becomes inoperable we have a constitutional right to go to a double dissolution and we will always keep that option up our sleeve," Mr Joyce told Sky News on Sunday.
He says the Senate should allow the government to get on with the job of turning the nation around to put it in a strong financial position.
A raft of budget-related legislation, much of which has Labor's support, will be debated over the fortnight of Senate and House of Representatives sittings.
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However, the likely blocking of draft laws to bring back the building industry watchdog could provide the government with the trigger for a double-dissolution election in early July.
The draft laws are being looked at by a Senate committee which is due to report by March 15.
If the government presses on with laws to change the Senate voting system this will also be seen as a sign that an early poll could be held.
Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann has taken soundings on simplifying the voting system from Labor, the Greens and independents but has yet to take a submission to cabinet.
The Greens say they are prepared to work with the government, but Labor is divided over whether changes could electorally benefit the coalition.
The sittings will be the first outing for Mr Turnbull's new-look frontbench, following last weekend's reshuffle in the wake of two ministerial retirements and three scandals.
Having taken the GST off the table in terms of tax reform, Mr Turnbull will sit down with his new cabinet to discuss alternatives including changes to superannuation concessions.
On Monday, the treaties committee will hold its first hearing into the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, involving 12 countries which make up 40 per cent of the world's GDP.
During the week the Senate will receive reports from inquiries into revenge pornography, long service standards, temporary work visas, flag of convenience shipping, the naval ship building industry and corporate tax avoidance.
Labor will introduce a private members bill to ban cosmetic testing on animals and the importation of products tested on animals overseas.
"It's clear that the vast majority of Australians don't believe animals should suffer for better lipstick or cleanser," it said in a statement on Sunday.
