The federal government has extended sitting hours for the Senate again to deal with its election-triggering ABCC bill before parliament ends for the year on Thursday.
The government needs the votes of 6 of the 8 cross-benchers to get this through, and three of those votes are controlled by the NXT - the Nick Xenophon Team.
Until now, Senator Xenophon had concerns over the delivery of the Murray Darling Basin plan.
But Senator Xenophon says the government's progress on the water plan now means the ABCC can be considered on its merits.
He says there are still some issues that are being worked through with the government in relation to that.
The federal government has used question time in the lower house to push for support on its ABCC legislation.
Labor remains opposed to it, saying it jeopardises the safety of construction workers and is a reflection of the Coalition's anti-union, anti-worker agenda.
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to put pressure on the opposition.
"They stand against the restoration of the rule of law to the construction sector. Why do that do that? They do that because they are a wholly-owned subsidiary of one of the most militant unions in the country: the CFMEU."
Still in the lower house, and MPs resumed debate on the government's revised backpacker tax.
It follows the government's agreement to lower the rate to 15 per cent, from its original planned rate of 19 per cent.
It's the second time the Coalition has proposed lowering the rate since the savings measure was first introduced in 2015 at 32.5 per cent.
Labor is standing by its demand for a 10.5 per cent rate.
The opposition's treasury spokesman, Chris Bowen, told parliament the government has failed to show the tax will make Australia more competitive.
"What the treasurer did not do is outline how 15 per cent is a competitive rate, how 15 per cent compares with New Zealand's tax rate, whether 15 per cent has been modelled in terms of the impact on backpacker numbers to Australia. He did none of that because he could not, because the work had not been done, because we know this was the epitome of policy on the run."
And on the sidelines of today's main business, there was speculation Attorney General George Brandis could resign over the holiday period and trigger a ministerial reshuffle.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull laughed off the reports and didn't confirm or deny them.
He put it down to it being a ritual question at this time of year.
But Labor maintains there's a a theme emerging, with Mr Turnbull having stood down two ministers and reshuffled his ministry less than a year ago.
Labor leader Bill Shorten told caucus members the Christmas break is the time for under-performing ministers to be swept out.
"We saw it at this time last year. 'Do you have confidence in Mal Brough and Jamie Briggs?' 'Absolutely,' the cry went out. Between Christmas and New Year, when no one is watching, out they go with the rest of the Christmas rubbish."
Also slated for the Christmas break is a tightening of security at Parliament House, as authorities worry about the iconic building's vulnerability to an attack.
One of the main concerns is the public's access to its signature sloping lawns.
A number of ministers and senators weighed into the story, with independent Senator Derryn Hinch telling 3AW fencing off the grassed area would be like putting up a Berlin wall.
"I can see how they want to shut the building off a bit more and the bulletproof glass etc ... I can handle all that. But I think the design of the building, in much more simple times I'll grant you, but that big sweep of green symbolises the building. It would be like putting a barbed-wire fence over the Opera House sails."
Prime Minister Turnbull has announced sitting Justice Susan Kiefel will replace Robert French as chief justice when he retires from the High Court in January.
Mr Turnbull says Justice Kiefel, who left school at 15 and began her working life as a legal secretary, has been one of Australia's most outstanding judicial officers.
Federal Court judge James Edelman will fill the vacancy on the bench left by Justice French.
Attorney General George Brandis says both will be sworn in on the 30th January next year.
"These are both outstanding Australians. They are both outstanding judges. Justice Kiefel's story is an inspiration. It is a great Australian story."
