It was a recommendation of an expert panel headed by former defence force chief Angus Houston to which the Labor caucus has given in-principle support.
During the caucus meeting in Canberra, two Labor MPs sought assurances from Immigration Minister Chris Bowen about protecting human rights.
Mr Bowen told the meeting the laws would follow international guidelines for migration and were in line with the Houston report's recommendations.
Earlier cabinet secretary Mark Dreyfus said the government was determined to discourage people from getting on boats and undertaking the dangerous journey to Australia.
"Our policy is to do whatever we need to do to stop the dreadful drowning of people trying to reach Australia," Mr Dreyfus told reporters.
Under existing migration laws, only asylum seekers intercepted at sea or at Christmas Island, the Cocos Islands or Ashmore Reef can be sent for processing at Nauru or Papua New Guinea's Manus Island.
By expanding the migration excise zone to the mainland, the government will be reviving a plan dumped by the Howard government following a backbench revolt led by Liberal moderates.
The opposition says it will consider any changes to the legislation.
"We'll take it through our processes," immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said.
Australian Greens immigration spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young described the plan as a shameful piece of legislation that discriminated against some of the most vulnerable people in the region.
"This Labor government is now going to try to enact legislation that is so discriminatory and un-Australian that John Howard faced an internal revolt when he tried it in 2006," the senator said.
Cabinet minister Craig Emerson, when asked if he thought the plan would receive the backing of the caucus, told Sky News: "I'm not one who anticipates these things.
"What I am is one who joined with others in accepting in-principle the recommendations of the Houston panel as a cohesive whole."
The bill is expected to go to parliament this week.
smh.com.au 30 Oct 2012
The Australian populous is treated to reality shows with law enforcement themes, that focus on the lives of the authorities.
These shows feature criminal gangs' operations, highway patrol dealings with losers and border protection agencies work.
The mass media portrays that in the line of border security work, it is clearly mentioned that Australia does not tolerate the illegal entry into the country which tried to circumnavigate customs and immigration authorities.
Any people with criminal convictions or suspected to be not of a genuine nature in visiting Australia, are refused entry.
This policy therefore applies to the illegal smuggling and entry of 'boat people' into Australia.
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