Labor's decision to wave through new laws that grant unprecedented powers to Australia's spy agencies is driven by the party's desire to "pick battles" on national security, and not appear overly obstructionist, sources said.

The government's first tranche of national security reforms enable ASIO to access an unlimited number of computers with a warrant and carry penalties of 10 years jail for anyone who discloses details of ASIO "special intelligence operations". The bill passed the Senate last week with the support of the Coalition, Labor and the Palmer United Party and is expected to go to the lower house on Wednesday where it will easily pass.

Picking battles: Labor does not want to appear overly obstructionist on national security matters. Credit:Andrew Meares

Lawyers, academics, human rights commissioner Tim Wilson and media organisations have warned the new laws will restrict legitimate reporting on security issues.

Labor sources said the party would likely have supported stronger protections for journalists if the powerful Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, which is dominated by Coalition members, had recommended them. The committee made only 17 relatively minor recommendations for change.