Deal on construction union crackdown imminent: minister

Members of the CFMEU blocking non-union workers from a Brisbane site.
The government is confident of bipartisan support for a bill putting the CFMEU into administration. -AAP Image

Ministerial powers to place the embattled CFMEU into administration could be put in place within days.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said she was confident the government will be able to reach a deal with the coalition as early as Monday to place the construction union into external administration.

It comes after attempts to pass the legislation failed in the Senate on Thursday, following tense talks between the government and the coalition.

Senator Gallagher said negotiations on the CFMEU had taken place over the weekend, and she was confident of the laws passing the upper house.

"(Workplace Relations Minister) Murray Watt has been working with (the coalition) to address concerns that they have, but I think the pathway through ... is with the coalition," she said.

"We're hopeful again, with the work that's been done over the weekend, that we'll reach agreement for passage of that bill on Monday."

The government introduced the laws cracking down on the CFMEU after revelations emerged of alleged links to organised crime and corruption.

Senator Gallagher said negotiations on the CFMEU laws likely centred on minimum terms for administrators to be in place, as well as strengthened accountability to the parliament.

The government had previously agreed to expand the administration period from three to five years and outlaw political donations during that period.

"There's a number of amendments that are currently being discussed with the coalition to meet some of the concerns they have, but also get the bill passed," Senator Gallagher said.

"This is really about passing legislation in the national interest."

Opposition housing spokesman Michael Sukkar said the laws needed to be robust.

"It's got to, ultimately, ensure that it takes the lawlessness out of this industry," he said.

"There were so many holes in (the laws), it was like Swiss cheese."

Laws cracking down on the construction union will be one of many reforms the government hope will clear parliament during the upcoming sitting week.

Labor has also expressed confidence it will reach a bipartisan deal on the NDIS to rein in spending and tighten eligibility for the disability scheme.

Laws to mandate that businesses pay superannuation on paid parental leave are also set to be introduced.