Labor has changed its position on minimum mandatory sentences for child sex offenders, backing a bill one day after killing off the proposal in federal parliament.
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The opposition changed a bill with tough new measures for pedophiles in the Senate on Monday night to strip out mandatory jail terms.
But with the Morrison government refusing to budge on a compromise, Labor caucus unanimously agreed to support the legislation in its original form.
Under the bill, pedophiles could face life behind bars, while repeat offenders and the most heinous child sex crimes would face mandatory minimum sentences.
It will only apply to people prosecuted for federal offences, with the majority of child sex abuse falling under state law.
Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus told a caucus meeting on Tuesday the party should not "let the perfect be the enemy of the good".
He said Labor strongly supported the vast majority of the bill, including the presumption against bail for serious offenders and lowering burdens on child witnesses.
The bill passed parliament on Tuesday despite the ALP policy platform opposing mandatory jail terms.
The coalition launched a stinging attack on Labor for rebuffing the minimum sentences through parliamentary tactics.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton accused the opposition of backing pedophiles over Australian kids.
"It is one of the worst acts I have seen in my 20 years in parliament," he said.
"Anthony Albanese needs to look parents in the eye and explain his betrayal of them."
Carly Ryan Foundation founder Sonya Ryan sent a letter to all MPs and senators calling for an end to political point-scoring on the bill.
"This should not be a political jousting match but a coming together, particularly when it comes to the protection of children," she wrote.
One Labor MP told the caucus meeting it was disappointing the party couldn't pursue the argument around mandatory sentencing, but accepted shadow cabinet's decision.
Another said the party couldn't stand in the way of the bill while also noting the importance of an independent judiciary.
Greens senator Nick McKim said the opposition should be embarrassed about walking away from its policy platform.
"Labor backflipped and has abandoned its opposition to mandatory sentencing," he told the upper house.
Australian Associated Press
