Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has suggested the government has run out of time to pass laws making it easier to deport foreign criminals.

Hawke has criticised Labor’s decision to back the Coalition’s changes in the lower house.

“If you have voted twice against it, will you now come into this chamber and vote for it?” he says.

“It isn’t good enough to hide in your office and put this bill through on the voices and send it to the Senate where you know we’ve run out of time, potentially, to pass this bill.”

The bill amends the character test in the Migration Act.

At the moment, it means minister cannot deport a foreign visa holder who is handed a custodial sentence of less than a year for crimes such as domestic violence or assault.

And that’s a wrap for QT.