Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has indicated he will support tightening of laws for people who refuse to return to their birth country because they fear persecution.

In March, Labor suffered a humiliating defeat after the laws that would jail people for up to five years if they refused to co-operate with moves to deport them were delayed in the Senate when the Coalition united with the Greens and other crossbenchers to defer the bill to an inquiry.

The report – released on Tuesday – showed the Coalition is demanding the government rein in the toughest conditions of its deportation bill by beefing up safeguards for families visiting from certain nations and foreigners resisting deportation.

Speaking today on Sydney radio station 2GB, Dutton said he would support tightening the laws.

“We sort of demonstrated all along, we’ll support tightening of laws. In fact, we proposed tightening up the government’s weak laws to start with. They were dragged kicking and screaming, and we’ve put forward some sensible suggestions,” he said.

Tomorrow the High Court will make a decision on a detainee under the pseudonym ASF17 – a bisexual Iranian man who is refusing to leave because of his sexuality.

He is one of several Iranian men the government cannot return because Iran refuses to accept citizens without their consent.

“Let’s see what the court says. On the legal advice that I’ve seen, I think the government will win this case, and let’s hope that’s the case,” Dutton said.

“If they don’t, as you say, it would be completely reckless if they haven’t provided options and got in place contingency plans.”