Scott Morrison hopes his religious discrimination bills can "bring Australians together", as the laws risk being blocked because of a stoush between moderate and conservative coalition MPs.
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The package of three bills, personally introduced by Mr Morrison in November, bans discrimination on the basis of a person's religious belief or activity in relation to employment, education, access to premises and the provision of goods, services and accommodation.
The laws also set up a Religious Discrimination Commissioner.
Under pressure from moderates and a range of lobby groups, Mr Morrison has proposed to also change the Sex Discrimination Act to ensure LGBTQI+ students and teachers cannot be discriminated against by religious schools.
However, this change does not have the support of some conservatives in the government.
Coalition MPs and senators will discuss amendments to the bills at a meeting on Tuesday, ahead of parliament's first sitting day for the year.
The bills have been listed as the main business for the day.
Many Liberals are concerned they have not yet seen the amendments and will be compelled to vote on the changes without enough time to properly consider them.
One MP told AAP some moderate MPs were being pressured not to come to Canberra for parliament, which would mean their vote would be paired with someone from Labor, essentially nullifying their voice on the issue.
The prime minister's office has denied this, saying pairing arrangements have been the case throughout the pandemic due to the limited number of people in the chamber.
A spokesman said the government will work with all members and senators to secure the passage of the bills.
Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer has threatening to vote against the package because it would override state anti-discrimination laws protecting students.
"Tasmania has very strong anti-discrimination laws and as a Tasmanian, I know they have been very hard-fought laws," she told the ABC.
"We should do what we can to protect them, and to continue to not discriminate or not allow discrimination against anyone on the basis of any attribute."
Ms Archer said talks had been ongoing between herself and Mr Morrison about the bill and one of her key concerns with the current legislation was a "statement of belief" clause.
The statement of belief would allow comments that offend, humiliate or insult others as long as they express a person's faith and are not malicious.
"It seems to me that the statement of belief provision is integral to what is trying to be changed," Ms Archer said.
"That is probably where the impasse is from my point of view, so I don't see how that can be bridged."
The Labor caucus met on Monday but was not given any bill amendments to consider.
Labor frontbencher Kristina Keneally said the opposition supported the principles of not discriminating against children in schools or against people of faith.
"Let's be clear - Labor supports people of faith being able to live without being discriminated against," Senator Keneally said.
"We also support that children who are in schools not be discriminated against because they are lesbian, gay, transgender or the like."
The Greens are planning amendments to remove the contentious statement of belief section and remove the section of the Sex Discrimination Act allowing religious schools to discriminate.
Ms Archer crossed the floor last year to support a federal anti-corruption body.
Australian Associated Press
