Labor still in pursuit of extra parliament
Labor is still talking to crossbenchers about making federal parliament sit for an extra two weeks to grapple with the recommendations of the banking royal commission.
The opposition would need 76 votes in the House of Representatives to add the extra sitting days in March and hasn't got enough crossbenchers on its side yet.
But Labor spokesman Tony Burke has suggested the party remains hopeful.
"If we already had 76 votes, I would have already moved it. So we're continuing the discussions," he told reporters on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said it would be "reckless" for parliament to sit again in March to fast-track its response to the banking royal commission.
At least 40 pieces of legislation are required to response to commissioner Kenneth Hayne's recommendations, which he said should not be prepared so quickly.
"I would call that type of financial legislation reckless," he told the National Press Club on Monday.
Labor says it doesn't want to address every recommendation, but simply make more progress than it otherwise would before the election.
"By having the parliament sit, we're able to start the process of enacting," Mr Burke said.
The discussion comes after proposed new laws making it easier for asylum seekers to get medical treatment passed parliament on Tuesday despite the government's opposition.
