Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reacts during House of Representatives Question Time at Parliament House. Picture: AAP

As the bill passed the lower house on Thursday, one MP compared the ban to US President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed wall between the US and Mexico

Greens MP Adam Bandt lashed out at the prime minister in Parliament, saying it was a policy Mr Trump would be proud of.

“This is Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s equivalent of saying he won’t allow Muslims into the country,” Mr Bandt told MPs.

“This is Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s equivalent (of building) a wall to keep people out.” He said it was a shameful attempt by Mr Turnbull to use the politics of fear and race to win votes, and Australia was better than that.

Greens Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt has called the proposed ban Malcolm Turnbull’s version of Donald Trump’s promised US-Mexico wall. Picture: AAP Image/Mick TsikasSource:AAP

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie called on the government to develop a more sophisticated response to the global refugee crisis.

“It’s about time the Liberal party, the National party and the Labor Party all stopped worrying about their political self-interest and started acting like leaders,” he told parliament.

The bill cleared the lower house, even though Labor and crossbench MPs Rebekha Sharkie, Cathy McGowan, Mr Bandt and Mr Wilkie voted against it.

It’s not certain it will get through the Senate.

The Opposition has pledged to block the laws and crossbencher Nick Xenophon — whose team holds three key votes — flagging support only if Australia doubles its refugee intake.

An Essential Poll released this week showed 56 per cent of Australians approve of the legislation — including 52 per cent of Labor voters.

The federal government insists the new laws are needed to ensure illegal arrivals can never find a way into the country.