Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton's decision to intervene and grant visas to two foreign au pairs in 2015 has been referred for a parliamentary inquiry.
Labor referred the matter to the upper house's legal and constitutional affairs committee on Thursday, as Mr Dutton ramps up his bid to challenge Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The inquiry will look into allegations concerning the inappropriate exercise of ministerial powers and report by September 11.
Labor senator Louise Pratt said she was hopeful the inquiry would answer questions about this matter properly answered.
"Previous questions asked in estimates have not got to the bottom of whether Minister Dutton's use of ministerial intervention powers, with respect to the visa status of two au pairs, were exercised appropriately," Senator Pratt told AAP.
In the first case, an au pair whose visa was cancelled at Brisbane's international airport in June 2015 was able to make a phone call, and within a couple of hours, Mr Dutton, as immigration minister, approved a new visa using his ministerial discretion powers.
In November the same year, Mr Dutton granted a visitor visa to a second au pair.
Mr Dutton has said he doesn't know the two individuals involved and they didn't work for his family.
He has denied the decision breached ministerial standards.
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