Visa changes could hurt young women: MP

Labor MP Matt Thistlewaite believes stripping protection rights from some foreigners who don't qualify as refugees could put at risk young women facing genital mutilation.

Labor opposes government legislation to specify that individuals seeking protection in Australia can be returned to their homeland if that nation has measures to protect them.

Mr Thistlewaite told parliament on Tuesday the policy was cruel "at its heart" and could harm women facing forced marriages and genital mutilation and result in Australia breaching its international obligations.