The Australian Greens said today that the government's metadata regime would make it easier for companies to embark on speculative invoicing attacks against Australians who are suspected of downloading movies in breach of copyright.

"The Federal Court decision today, that will see the names and residential addresses of around 4700 alleged copyright infringers handed to a US company, is likely to be the first of many," Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens communication spokesperson said today.

"Copyright laws exist for a reason and they should not be infringed upon.

The Australian Greens have called on the government to fast-track the implementation of a scheme to mandate notifications of data breaches, as the international community reacts to news that the personal information of 31 world leaders was compromised by the immigration department.

"This is an embarrassing international incident which highlights that no system is infallible," Senator Scott Ludlam, Greens communication spokesperson said today.

The Australian Greens have condemned an Abbott/Shorten unity ticket that has passed data retention laws through federal parliament this afternoon.

“The ALP has caved in to Tony Abbott's self-interested fear campaign and supported a bill that entrenches a form of passive mass surveillance over 23 million Australians," Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens communications spokesperson said following the vote. 

“The ALP will be judged for that, and we will ensure that people never forget who made this possible.

The Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs has today tabled its inquiry into Australia's electronic surveillance laws, chaired by Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.

The report was tabled as the Senate has begun debating mandatory data retention legislation, which will entrench some of the more serious flaws in Australia's surveillance regime.

"It is evident to many people what has gone wrong with our regime of state surveillance, but it is much harder to identify how to restore integrity to our system," Senator Ludlam said.

The Australian Greens have announced a broad suite of amendments to the data retention regime being legislated by Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten.

"Our amendments address major privacy and security protections that are being stripped away by the Abbott/Shorten surveillance unity ticket," Senator Scott Ludlam, Greens communications spokesperson said.

"Authorities should need a warrant to access bulk metadata and that entire process should have proper, independent oversight. That's what the Greens will move in the Senate today.

The Australian Greens have slammed the rushed passage of the government's mass surveillance regime through the House of Representatives thanks to a back-room deal between Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten.

"Bill Shorten has thrown the beleaguered Prime Minister a surveillance lifeline that could cost in excess of $400 million in the first year alone," Senator Scott Ludlam, Greens communication spokesperson said today.