The federal government will continue negotiations with key balance of power senators to convince them to back its controversial FuelWatch scheme.
Legislation to set up a national petrol price monitoring scheme by December 15 is delayed in the Senate, after the coalition opposition referred it to an upper house committee for an inquiry.
Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen, who introduced the FuelWatch legislation to the lower house, says he has held discussions with independent senator Nick Xenophon and Family First senator Steve Fielding.
Both senators have indicated they would not support the legislation in its present form. The Australian Greens, holding the other five balance of power votes, are siding with the coalition in opposing the scheme.
Mr Bowen said West Australian state Liberals supported FuelWatch in their state.
"Which shows the hypocrisy of the federal Liberal Party," he told ABC Radio.
There is always "discussion and negotiation" that goes on with any legislation that goes through the Senate.
"I've had a discussion with Senator Xenophon, and I'll continue the same with Senator Fielding, and I'll continue right up until it goes to a vote in the Senate I'm sure," he said.
Mr Bowen said FuelWatch was a very important reform which would give consumers a lot more information and introduce transparency into the petrol market.
"You've got the situation where the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) says we have as close to collusion as you can get in the petrol market with it still being legal, and the response of the federal opposition is, that's fine, no worries, we're not going to do anything about it," he said.
"Well, that's not acceptable to the government and we'll be arguing the case vigorously."
