Workplace law change mandate clear: ACCI

A peak business body says the coalition has a mandate for workplace law changes it took to the election and should go further.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief James Pearson welcomed Malcolm Turnbull's commitment to bring workplace bills to restore the building watchdog, put in place tougher penalties for corruption and protect volunteers to parliament.

But Mr Pearson said the coalition made further commitments during the campaign, including acting on the findings of the unions royal commission and responding to a Productivity Commission report on the workplace relations framework.

"The recommendations offer some useful changes, including the recognition that the bargaining system must be changed to better suit small businesses," Mr Pearson said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Workplace reform is critical for this country's economic wellbeing and competitiveness, so we cannot afford three years of inaction."

The ACTU says the government has no mandate for major or adverse changes to industrial relations.

ACTU president Ged Kearney said unions would work with crossbenchers to block the bills which were "dangerous and deeply unfair to working Australians".

The government will face a tough battle to get the two double dissolution trigger bills through parliament.

If the coalition ends up with 76 lower house seats and 30 senators, as is predicted, it will need eight more votes to get the bills through a joint sitting.