Coalition loses vote to delay asylum laws

Labor has defeated a government attempt to defer debate on proposed laws making it easier for asylum seekers to get medical treatment.

The coalition moved a motion trying to push debate on proposed amendments to border protection laws until Wednesday, but Labor, the Greens and crossbenchers voted together to bring the vote on.

The government argued the proposed laws are unconstitutional because they used public money to pay doctors, but Labor is removing the requirement to pay doctors from the proposed bill, circumventing the coalition's argument.