Our hearts go out to those impacted by the devastating attack on families celebrating Easter at a public park in Lahore this weekend.

The killing of around 65 innocent people and the wounding of many more, mostly women and children, is an atrocity.

For the international community it is an almost overwhelming tragedy, coming so soon after the senseless violence that killed at least 28 people in Brussels and 41 in Baghdad.

On behalf of the Australian Greens I wish to extend my most heartfelt condolences to the people of Brussels, particularly those who have lost loved ones in this awful, senseless attack.

We must all join in condemning such violent and criminal acts and must not allow fear to divide our community. 

At a time when peace and security are under threat around the world, we must come together, to ensure that the perpetrators of these terrible acts are brought to justice.

The Australian Greens have welcomed Malcolm Turnbull's departure from the divisive and aggressive language of Tony Abbott, calling on the new Prime Minister to match his words with his actions.

"I agree with the Prime Minister that as political leaders we must continue to champion multiculturalism and unite the community against this threat that feeds on division and fear," said Greens Leader Richard Di Natale.

"The change of rhetoric is welcome but it's important that the decisions of the Prime Minister reflect his words.

Senator WRIGHT (South Australia) (13:08):  I want to express the great disappointment of the Australian Greens on the vote that just took place, when the government and the opposition and a significant number of the crossbenchers voted not to refer the citizenship bill, also known as the Allegiance to Australia bill, to the full scrutiny of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee of the Senate.

The Australian Greens say the Abbott Government's citizenship laws outlined today are a cynical attempt to bypass the courts yet again, but will not make Australians any safer.

Spokesperson for Legal Affairs Senator Penny Wright said the Prime Minister had made it clear the power to determine who would lose citizenship still rested with the Immigration Minister, who would decide which terrorist organisations are proscribed under the Citizenship Act.

Australian Greens spokesperson for legal affairs Senator Penny Wright says the Abbott Government's proposal to bypass the courts and concentrate power in the hands of the Minister must be stopped.

"It is an extraordinary abuse of power to have one person deciding who gets to be Australian or not," Senator Wright said.

"The decision to remove a person's citizenship - the most fundamental right of our Constitution - must only ever be made by a court of law.