A bill to clarify the legal status of people smuggling has been introduced to the House of Representatives and passed with the support of the Coalition less than an hour later.

The Government has defended the retrospective nature of the bill, saying it will clarify the intention of the people smuggling law passed in 1999.

In a case before the Victorian Court of Appeal later this week, lawyers will argue that asylum seekers have a legal right to seek refuge in Australia, so by assisting them, people smugglers have not broken any laws.

Adam Bandt, the Greens MP for Melbourne, says the bill is being rushed through because of that court case.

"This is a bill that is reacting to the fact that the court of appeal may well have decided in a couple of days that yes, this person does not deserve to be punished," he said.

"In a desire to be tough, what does the Government do? They cosy up to the Coalition and say, let's take away people's rights retrospectively, let's do it quickly."