PM Malcolm Turnbull wants to hold the next Federal election in August, September or October. Picture: Ray Strange.

The latest a double dissolution election could be held is July 16.

But today, Turnbull said a later election remained his first choice.

“I understand the perennial fascination with election dates,” he said.

“I’m urging the senators to pass the legislation naturally and I just say to you that while all constitutional options remain open, my expectation is, and my assumption is that the election will be held in the normal way at the normal time which is August, September, October this year.”

Mr Turnbull issued a public warning to Senators that the Australian Building and Construction Commission legislation was “critically important”.

PM Malcolm Turnbull remains unapologetic for taking his time with his tax reform package. Picture: AAP/Lukas Coch.Source:AAP

“We need to ensure that the construction sector, which employs about a million Australians is governed by law,” he said.

“As we saw in the Hayden Royal Commission, this has been in many respects, a lawless zone.”

Mr Turnbull also said he makes “no apology for taking the economic security of Australians seriously” — amid claims he’s been too slow to act on tax reform.

The Turnbull Government has confirmed portions of its tax reform package will be released prior to the release of the Federal Budget in May, despite the Prime Minister previously stating the Budget would act as a white paper.

Responding to repeated Opposition claims he was all talk and no action, Mr Turnbull told reporters today he was unapologetically taking his time.

“We make no apology for taking the economic security of Australians seriously,” he said.

“We make no apology for considering tax and changes to the tax system very carefully and analysing it carefully and we are doing that.

“We’re undertaking that work and when it is concluded we will then present the policy to the public for their approval.”