A Senate Inquiry will begin looking at the government's controversial legislation that could put asylum seekers in jail for refusing to be deported and blacklist countries that refuse to allow them back.

The Coalition, Greens and crossbench MPs voted to delay the bill and send it to the inquiry. Greens spokesperson for Immigration David Shoebridge says there's no other way to describe the legislation than cruel.

Guest:David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson for Immigration; on the Senate Committee