It's probably unreasonable to make asylum seekers at risk of harm relocate within their home country, a parliamentary committee has told the federal government.
A Senate committee considering draft laws which water down Australia's obligations to foreigners seeking complementary protection visas has urged the government to insert greater protections.
The visa category assists those who are not refugees but can't be sent home for fear of being harmed - for example, women at risk of female genital mutilation or honour killings, or journalists who speak out against their government.
The new rules would mean individuals can be returned if they can relocate to parts of their home country deemed safer.
People who can change their jobs or don't face a real risk of peril - for example, if they sell alcohol in countries that ban the substance - would also be denied safe haven.
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In a report on Thursday, the committee backed the laws but said they should take into account if a person was able to safely and legally relocate to another area.
It also raised concerns about the appropriateness of making someone change jobs as a reasonable step to avoiding harm, with exceptions for criminals or gang members.
Some groups had given evidence to the inquiry arguing that in many cases, a person's occupation may be fundamental to who they are, their only skill, or opportunities to retrain in another field may be limited or non-existent.
The committee, chaired by a Liberal senator, approved the bill's passage through parliament.
But in dissenting reports, Labor and the Greens urged the legislation be blocked.
