Govt poses demerit system for rogue unions

The Morrison government is amending its controversial union busting legislation currently before parliament to include a demerit point system that could lead to union officials being banned who breach work place laws.

The Weekend Australian newspaper says the new system would involve a 180-penalty-unit threshold for law-breaking trade unions as part of its Ensuring Integrity Bill.

Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter told the newspaper that these proposed amendments were the result of negotiations with the Centre Alliance party.

The bill could be brought on for a Senate vote as early as next week, although details have yet to be finalised.

Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick told the newspaper that under the system union officials could be subject to a ban application for "multiple, minor breaches".

A proposed trigger for a deregistration application for a union was 900 penalty units but Senator Patrick said that figure was "ballpark" and yet to be agreed.