The Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Bill makes it difficult for minor parties and independents to enter the Senate using complicated preference deals.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull used Question Time to promote the changes, saying it will give power back to the voters.
"They will simplify the ballot paper and stop the gaming of the system by preference whisperers and backroom deals. Mr Speaker, we know what's been happening with the Senate voting has been anything but democratic and anything but transparent."
The changes have put the Government on a warpath with most of the crossbench.
Independent senator Glenn Lazarus says the reforms are a self-serving effort to gain full control in the Senate.
"Australia has had to come to a standstill while we deal with this ridiculous issue of voting reform. Obviously, this is nothing more than the Prime Minister wanting to take control of the Senate so he can push through legislation that's going to affect the people that can least afford it."
The Opposition used the week to once again highlight that a much-hyped tax policy is still yet to be seen.
Labor's Tony Burke used his time in the House to accuse the Prime Minister of walking away from his personal beliefs.
"He was passionate about the republic. Doomed. He was passionate about marriage equality. Doomed. This guy over here was passionate about dealing with bracket creep. Doomed. Gone. Passionate about climate change. Doomed."
Cabinet did approve the so-called "effects test."
If passed, it would protect smaller operations from the anti-competitive practices of the big companies -- for example, excessive discounting of milk or petrol.
Malcolm Turnbull announced the changes
"This is a vital economic reform. This is, yet again, a case of my Government taking long-overdue reforms out of the too-hard basket and getting on with the job."
Politically, it is a big win for the National Party, which has been pushing for it for years.
Tony Abbott rejected it last year as prime minister, and, at the time, it was reported Mr Turnbull was not a fan either.
In question time, while Coalition backbenchers congratulated themselves on the initiative, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten continued to pursue the Government's perceived weak spot.
"It wasn't Labor who said to set the test of new economic leadership. It was Mr Turnbull. He justified rolling the Member for Warringah (Mr Abbott) on the basis of new economic leadership, and, in that time, we've seen the constant retreat backwards from tax reform. We talk about the PM shrinking into his job. You should see the Treasurer. You need a microscope to find that fellow these days."
Outside the chamber, there was disgreement within the Coalition over the Safe Schools program that had continued operating under the Abbott Government.
It is an anti-bullying program for gay and transgender kids.
While the program has already been reviewed, the Nationals' George Christensen is gathering signatures to scrap its funding, pending a parliamentary inquiry.
"If you want an anti-bullying program, have an anti-bullying program. But don't bring queer gender theory into schools. That's for unis, not mainstream schools."
Tony Abbott is one who signed, even though he continued the Labor program under former education minister Christopher Pyne.
Mr Pyne suggested he feels strongly about bullying.
"Bullying in schools is unacceptable. And I didn't want to bring my 48-year-old attitude to these materials, because I have children of my own, and, if they were being bullied at school, I'd want them to get the support that they need."
Politicians usually keep a low profile on the Thursday of a sitting week to fly back home to their electorates.
But the Government forced all members to remain in Canberra until the Senate voting legislation passed both houses.
It meant a mammoth overnight sitting of the Senate, with Labor and most of the crossbenchers trying to drag out the proceedings.
But there was never any concern the legislation would fail -- it was simply a matter of when it would pass.
