Coalition tries to set up showdown with Labor on deporting criminals

Morrison government ramps up pre-election bid to wedge Labor on national security issues as Kevin Rudd condemns rancid lies' on China

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The Morrison government is gearing up for a national security election, daring Labor to vote for a bill that would ease deportation of permanent visa holders for low-level offending and amping up its rhetoric on appeasement" of China.

In caucus Labor reserved its position on the strengthening character test bill - which it previously helped defeat in the Senate - ahead of a lower house vote on Wednesday, which Scott Morrison claimed would prove whether Labor was on the side of criminals".