'Tidying up' stage for Melbourne port sale

A $6 billion deal to lease Melbourne's port is in the "tidying up" phase as the government and opposition negotiate on the final details.

Treasurer Tim Pallas says he expects amendments to the sale legislation to be ready to be passed on Tuesday.

"(It's) a tidying up exercise rather than an exercise undermining the principles that have been agreed," Mr Pallas told reporters on Wednesday.

Shadow treasurer Michael O'Brien said negotiations had been constructive but there was no deal done on the latest amendments.

"We've gone back to the government and identified where those amendments don't do the job," Mr O'Brien told reporters.

"If they do meet our concerns, obviously that will bode well for next week."

The sale of the 50-year lease of the port was held up as the government and opposition battled over the length of a compensation clause available for the new owners if a competing port was built before Melbourne reached capacity.

The government wanted 50 years, the opposition wanted none - they settled on 15 years.

The proceeds from the port lease will be used to fund suburban level crossing removals and other infrastructure projects.