Labor says it is willing to work with the Morrison government on new anti-terrorism laws but any powers must be carefully scrutinised.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants to be able to deport extremists if his government believes they may be entitled to citizenship in another country.
However, the law change could fall foul of countries which do not want to take back the convicted terrorists and they could find themselves languishing in immigration detention indefinitely.
As well there are concerns about over-reach in terms of ministerial powers.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says Labor is committed to working with the government on national security laws.
"If we make sure that they're effective, that they keep Australians safe, well then we'll be up for the sensible debate," he said.
"If you do a rush job, you can sometimes do a botched job. Let's get it right."
Mr Morrison says citizenship should be forfeited if someone commits a terrorist act in Australia.
"If they're a citizen of that country, they have to take them back," he said.
Attorney-General Christian Porter acknowledged some countries would refuse to take dual nationals back, but insisted Australia would not leave people stateless.
"We cannot force a country to repatriate someone and so there are instances where there are elongated stays in immigration detention," he told reporters in Perth.
"But ultimately our first and foremost concern is not for the terrorist, it's for the Australian public that we're trying to protect."
The Law Council of Australia has warned attempts to strip terrorists of their citizenship could breach international obligations guarding against leaving people stateless.
The government also wants to introduce "temporary exclusion orders" of up to two years for foreign fighters returning from the Middle East.
The proposed laws come in response to the deadly Bourke Street attack, and the Melbourne arrests of three Australian men of Turkish ancestry, who are accused of planning a terror event.
