Labor has vowed to strike down an attempt by the government to give the immigration minister "Trump-like" powers over certain visa holders.
Proposed changes before parliament would allow Peter Dutton to force a "specified class of persons" to have their visas revalidated.
Mr Dutton could identify the group based on whether they hold a particular passport, live in a particular state, province or country, may have travelled through a particular area or applied for a visa during a certain period.
The minister can invoke the power if it is "in the public interest" - a broad term that could take into account public health and safety, national security or Australia's economic wellbeing.
He can then refuse to revalidate the visa if there is "adverse information" relating to the person.
Labor's immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann said the opposition cannot support a bill that could see whole groups of people targeted on the basis of their place of birth, passport or religion.
"The measures ... will give the minister unfettered power to target whole groups of people for extra scrutiny and visa suspension through the revalidation process," he told the lower house on Wednesday.
"Labor cannot give Trump-like powers to a minister who has such a high desire to see a divided Australia."
Mr Neumann said it was "extraordinary" that the measure had no genuine parliamentary oversight and could be abused to pursue a political agenda.
He said the minister already has the power to cancel visas on a number of grounds, including national security.
"These measures and the targeting of people should be of concern to everyone in Australia."
Mr Dutton, when introducing the bill last October, said the measure was being introduced to help manage the risks of a proposed new 10-year visitor visa.
Two other changes to the Act are also being debated, including one that will enable the use of contactless technology to clear travellers through Australia's SmartGate immigration clearance system.
Labor supports the other two amendments, but - unless they are split up - will vote against the bill as a whole.
