Karl Stefanovic was in no mood to continue pleasantries. Picture: Today/Channel 9

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash appeared enthusiastic ahead of what started off as a celebratory interview on Nine’s Today show this morning.

She was keen to discuss her parliamentary win after the Australian Building and Construction Commission bill was finally passed.

“Congratulations are in order,” host Karl Stefanovic kicked off welcoming the beaming senator.

But the interview took a turn when Stefanovic decided to abandon all pleasantries and have a go at Ms Cash for the questionable methods the government used to get their bill over the line.

In order to have the controversial bill to reinstate the construction industry watchdog passed — one of the reasons for this year’s double dissolution election — the government had to do what Labor described as “a number of dirty deals” and “water down” the original bill to please senators.

To get the bill through, the government ensured concessions on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan to get the Nick Xenophon Team on board, and struck a deal with Derryn Hinch to delay the implementation of the reforms.

Stefanovic seized on this in his interrogation.

“You have done more horse trading than R.M. Williams. Do you feel a little dirty?” he asked Ms Cash.

“Be open with it, you have done deal. Who cares? Get on with it.”

Ms Cash responded sheepishly, saying it was “incumbent on the Government to negotiate with the crossbench”.

“Derryn Hinch is running wild in the Senate and you can’t control it,” Stefanovic retorted.

Ms Cash denied crossbench senators were controlling the government saying “not at all, not at all”. She maintained the bill’s passing was a “significant win for the government”.

‘Great to Barney with you.’ Picture: Today/Channel 9Source:Channel 9

The ribbing continued over the backpacker tax, which must be finalised in parliament today, the final parliamentary sitting day of the year.

Ms Cash said the government was still in negotiation with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten over the proposed tax rate.

“Don’t worry about Bill Shorten, when are you going to change the backpacker tax?” Stefanovic asked.

“That’s a really unfair statement, Karl, because Bill Shorten should have pressure on him to be brought to account in relation to the backpacker tax,” Ms Cash replied.

“No, no, it is up to you to negotiate like you did before with the senate,” the host said.

The back and forth continued, but by the end of the heated discussion it was clear both participants had enjoyed the argument.

“The barneys continue,” said Stefanovic.

“Great to barney with you,” said Ms Cash.

Meanwhile, in an interview on radio station 2GB, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull defended his “horse trading” over the ABCC bill.

“I’m the prime minister, I’ve got to get things done,” he said.

“In order to get that legislation through I had to seek compromises and reach agreements.”