Refugees freed from detention following a landmark High Court ruling face mandatory jail stints and ankle monitoring bracelets under tough new laws.

Emergency legislation to change visa rules passed the parliament on Thursday night as the government rushed to introduce new protections amid fears over community safety.

Murderers and rapists are among the 84 people who were released after the court last week found indefinite detention was unlawful.

Electronic monitoring and curfews in addition to mandatory minimum jail terms for people who breach their conditions are among the six amendments agreed to by the government.

Labor struck a deal with the opposition earlier that day, agreeing to the amendments to secure the crucial support needed to clear the legislation.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said the safety of the community remained the highest priority.

“From the moment the High Court handed down its decision we have been implementing measures to keep the community safe,” he told parliament.

Opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan said the laws were a good first step following the High Court decision.

“We’ve taken some significant steps to keep the community safe. We still think there is further steps that need to be taken, but that’s a debate now for another day,” he said.

The Greens opposed the legislation, decrying it as a way to circumvent the court’s ruling and as creating a two-tiered legal system for migrants and Australians.

A number of the party’s senators stood in the upper house to slam the laws.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young criticised the amendments as an “absolute disgrace,” in addition to being an attack on democracy and the rule of law.

“I know there are members of the Labor Party who are hanging their heads in shame,” she said.

Greens Senator David Shoebridge said the “combined parties of cruelty” had come together to ram through the laws.

Cabinet minister Katy Gallagher said offences committed by individuals would be assessed, and they would be “managed appropriately” under the legal frameworks.

“Let me be clear, the safety of the Australian community is an absolute priority for the Australian government,” she said.

Shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash congratulated the government for agreeing to the proposals put forward by the coalition.

The High Court is yet to release the reasoning behind its decision to overturn a 20-year precedent.

-AAP