Labor and the Greens are questioning tougher English language tests and changes affecting families and couples under the government's proposed citizenship law revamp.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton plans to introduce legislation to parliament this week that includes a values test and university-level English language requirements.
The minister will also have the power to overturn citizenship decisions by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, as he can already do on some visa matters.
It's understood the Labor and Greens party rooms extensively discussed the proposed changes, even though the government is yet to show MPs the bill.
Dutton to get powers to override citizenship decisions
The Greens - which voted to oppose the laws - were told some people who had received letters confirming their citizenship ceremony date had also gotten phone calls saying their attendance had been cancelled.
The Labor caucus - which is awaiting the bill before making a final decision - heard the case of a husband who received his citizenship but whose partner was told they would have to wait three years.
Some Labor MPs questioned the difficulty of the English language requirement for applicants and whether the changes would take into account people with disabilities.
Labor citizenship spokesman Tony Burke told reporters he had a briefing on May 8, but few of the later details leaked to the media were covered.
"When I asked what the evidence base was, if I could be provided with the evidence base for the changes, I was told it didn't exist," Mr Burke said in Canberra on Tuesday.
"When I asked, for example on the English language test, how many people who currently apply for citizenship would pass the test, the government didn't know."
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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told parliament in a speech on national security he wanted new citizens to be "Australian patriots".
Mr Burke argues if the citizenship changes are about national security "how can it be that it only applies to people who are permanent residents - all of whom are already here"?
The Labor frontbencher said it was no surprise the government wasn't releasing feedback on the draft laws, after he was told there had been 1700 submissions.
"The reason you don't want the submissions public is if you've been humiliated by them," he said.
Greens senator Nick McKim says the proposed changes are politically-motivated.
"This is about Mr Dutton trying to consolidate more power on his desk and ultimately Labor should be staring this down," he said.
But crossbench senator Derryn Hinch said Administrative Appeals Tribunal decisions against the deportation of sex offenders and rapists were a concern.
"I think the idea of overturning the decisions of the AAT is fantastic," he said.
Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm welcomes the proposed changes, saying they borrow from his party's policies.
