Labor to vote against citizenship shake-up

Opposition citizenship spokesman Tony Burke blasted the prospect of migrants having to pass a university level English test as a "bizarre act of snobbery", arguing the changes would create a permanent underclass of people denied citizenship.

The proposed changes would introduce a mandatory English proficiency test, increase the time between becoming a permanent resident and becoming a citizen, and would query candidates on Australian values and how they integrate into the community.

The center-left Labor Party's opposition to the legislation makes Senate approval for the changes far more hard.

Burke told reporters the government's legislation took some steps, "which, put simply, Australia should never take - and are inconsistent with who we are as a country".

Justice Minister Michael Keenan - invoking the deadly Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney - said it was critical to weed out bad eggs before they entered the country and long before they achieved citizenship.

Mr Dutton and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull immediately condemned Labor for opposing the changes.

Mr Dutton said Labor's concerns about extending the waiting period and the English test were "red herrings".

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has been trying to ramp up pressure on Mr Shorten over the issue, demanding he give the legislation his support.

He said it was "a freaky act of snobbery" on all Australians and "a fundamental shift in how Australian citizenship is defined", adding that a "very large number" of Australian-born citizens would never pass such a test.

Labor to vote against citizenship shake-up

The Greens have already vowed to oppose the changes, which means the Government will now have to negotiate with the Senate crossbench in order to turn them into law.

Labor says the government's proposed citizenship changes are a "massive over-reach" and will be opposed in parliament.

Nick Xenophon is doubtful about English language requirements being necessary for Australia's safety.

But the politics were quickly exploited by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, who doubled down by insisting national security was at stake and accusing Labor leader Bill Shorten of being "mugged by the left of his party".

"A very large number of Australians will never reach the level of English that's being demanded by this test", he said.

"If there is a national security problem for these people, then why on earth does the government have them already living here permanently?"

"I'm confident we can get this bill through the Senate because I think ultimately Labor will change their position", he said.

"[Labor is] disrespecting Australian citizenship by failing to recognise that integration, citizenship and the harmony and the mutual respect that comes from shared political values that unite us, that requires a respect for citizenship", Mr Turnbull said.