An Australian politician who made an eight-hour speech claimed he ended his filibuster because he had worked a full day.

Mark Parnell held up a vote on changes to workers compensation laws with his marathon contribution to a parliamentary debate.

He is a member of the Upper House in South Australia state for the left-leaning Greens party,

He started his speech opposing the bill at about 11am on Thursday and ended about 12 hours later, telling the presiding officer: "Mr President, with those brief remarks I'll conclude." He took breaks for lunch and dinner.

Independent politician Ann Bressington then rose to her feet and spoke for five hours, in a debate that finished at 4am.

The two legislators managed to defer a vote on the bill until June.