The Turnbull government will go home with the Christmas present it wants in the form of its building industry watchdog, a key crossbench senator believes.
Negotiations are continuing on draft laws that restore the Australian Building and Construction Commission, one of the July 2 double-dissolution electon triggers.
"I don't think it will be this week but by next week, as a Christmas present, I think the government will go home with some sort of deal," independent Derryn Hinch told ABC radio on Wednesday.
Senator Hinch has presented a "few" amendments to Employment Minister Michaelia Cash including "one big one" to provide protection for subcontractors .
If the the government was amenable to the changes he would back the ABCC bill.
"I am encouraged by the government, I think the government may go home with some sort of deal."
In light of two royal commissions - one into the building industry and the second into union corruption - Senator Hinch believes there is a strong case for a specialised industrial body to police the construction sector.
"I've said I'm pro-worker, anti-corruption."
The ABCC bill is listed for debate in the Senate on Wednesday.
