Four crossbench MPs have sent a message - they will not buy into political games during question time.
Their joint statement follows Labor's motion to suspend standing orders about the government's "part-time" parliament being narrowly defeated.
The opposition wanted the lower house to agree that the "ramshackle, reactionary" government needed to stop fighting itself and focus on representing Australians.
The motion was defeated 68 to 66, with Rebekha Sharkie, Kerryn Phelps, Cathy McGowan and Julia Banks abstaining from the vote.
Adam Bandt and Andrew Wilkie sided with Labor, while Bob Katter went with the government.
Ms Sharkie said she and three other MPs had made their position clear to both parties about suspending standing orders.
"We don't play party political games during question time. It's as simple as that," Ms Sharkie told ABC Radio.
Labor Leader Bill Shorten on Thursday launched an attack against Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the government, which has scheduled 10 days of parliamentary sittings over an eight-month period.
"Australians are outraged that this government is too scared to turn up to parliament," Mr Shorten told parliament.
"The reason why this government doesn't like to turn up to work is because those in the government can't stand being in the same city as their other colleagues."
Mr Shorten reeled off Mr Morrison describing the government as "the Muppet Show", losing Liberal MP Julia Banks to the cross bench this week and cancelling parliament in August as some of the reasons for the motion.
"The parliament is part-time under this prime minister, but the civil war in the Liberal Party is a full-time occupation," he said.
Manager of opposition business Tony Burke poked fun at the government's continued remarks about Labor being "cocky" about its prospects at the next election.
"We don't even know if we'll be against a Morrison government," Mr Burke said.
Mr Morrison said his government had ensured more people were in work than ever before, focusing in on economic progress.
"We're focused on policy, we're focused on a strong economy, we're focused on keeping Australians safe," Mr Morrison told parliament.
"The Labor Party doesn't understand small business, because there aren't many union employees in small business."
