An asylum advocacy group says there's a real danger of creating a criminal underclass because of the federal government's current policies on bridging visas.
The Immigration Department says there are currently around 8700 asylum-seekers on bridging visas, living in the community.
They are not allowed to obtain work and are often reliant on charity organisations to obtain accomodation in Australia.
Spokeswoman for the Independent Council of Refugee Advocacy, Marion Le, says the current laws are leading many asylum seekers to seek out illegal work or accommodation in substandard conditions.
"Here we have got people living in the country who are not even told how long their visas are going to be for and they're living in this limbo land with a threat by the way hanging over a lot of them that they can be taken into custody at any time and transferred to Manus Island or Nauru."
But
The finance minister told Sky News the government is providing more initial support than the Howard government did under its temporary protection visa regime.
"There is no easy answer, and anyone who says there is, is wrong," she said on Friday.
The government needed to implement policies that prevented asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat and risking their lives.
"No one can forget the tragedies we have seen in this area in past years," Senator Wong said.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has defended a proposal by immigration spokesman Scott Morrison to freeze bridging visas for asylum seekers.
Mr Abbott says the proposal is not a form a racial vilification.
His immigration spokesman Scott Morrison is pushing this policy idea after a Sri Lankan asylum seeker was charged this week with indecently assaulting a university student in Sydney.
But Mr Abbott denies this would racially vilify asylum seekers.
"I just think that's wrong," he told reporters in Brisbane on Friday.
"It's very important that people whose status is yet to be determined are being monitored by the government. The government needs to know where they are."
He stood by Mr Morrison's comments.
"Of course. The government has to maintain control of the system," Mr Abbott said.
