Turnbull reaches out to crossbench senators to have his bill passed

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has reached out to crossbench senators for help passing the federal government's workplace reform laws before it triggers a double-dissolution election.

Family First Senator Bob Day says the Prime Minister called him on Easter Monday to discuss efforts to restore and try to win crossbench support Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

"The prime minister clearly wants this bill to pass," the South Australian senator said in a statement on Tuesday.

Malcolm Turnbull (right) has reached out to Senator Bob Day for help passing workplace reform laws before it triggers a double-dissolution election. Photo: AAP

The former Liberal Party member told Mr Turnbull there is no reason why an agreement can't be reached if the government commits to addressing some of the crossbench's concerns about corruption in other sectors, not just the construction industry.

"After speaking with the PM, I am confident an agreement could be reached if the government agreed to look at sector-specific corruption measures," Senator Day said.

He thinks the government should establish anti-corruption measures that are tailored to each sector, but thinks ABCC is "the perfect place to start" cleaning up corruption.

Last week Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, on the prime minister's advice, recalled both houses of parliament for a three-week sitting from April 18.

Mr Turnbull wants the Senate to use the sitting - which will include the federal budget, brought forward a week to May 3 - to pass bills reinstating the ABCC and imposing higher penalties for union corruption.

Bob Day is the Family First Senator and a former Liberal Party member Bob Day. Photo: AAP

If the bills, which have previously been rejected, are not passed, a double-dissolution election will be held on July 2, the first since 1987.

Though the Government has resisted, almost all the crossbenchers opposed to the ABCC support creating an independent commission of corruption to examine problems across all sectors of the Federal public service.

A week ago, Mr Turnbull ordered a special three-week Senate sitting from April 18 in a bid to pass the ABCC legislation.

A week ago, Malcolm Turnbull ordered a special sitting in a bid to pass the ABCC legislation, warning that if it was rejected voters would go to a double dissolution election on July 2. Photo: AAP

He warned at the time that if the Senate rejected the Bill again, voters would go to a double dissolution election on July 2.

The Government needs six of the eight crossbench senators to support its ABCC Bill.

If the ABCC Bill goes through, the Government loses its trigger for a double dissolution election.

Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said the Government was using the debate over the ABCC Bill as a distraction because of its problems on many other policy fronts.

She said the Government seemed intent on finding an excuse for an election to avoid being overshadowed by deposed PM Tony Abbott.

Ms Plibersek said the Government’s only interest was rushing to an election so Mr Turnbull could “save his own skin” before the ghost of Mr Abbott caught up with him.