PHONE and internet records of everyday Australians will be held for two years as the federal government fights the threat of homegrown terrorism.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s National Security Committee has signed off on controversial mandatory data retention laws, which spy agencies claim are “critical” to fighting terrorism.

The Daily Telegraph has confirmed the NSC, in a marathon meeting yesterday in Canberra, approved the laws to compel telecommunications and internet companies to keep customer data — namely metadata — for at least two years.

Metadata is background data recorded by devices such as phones, laptops and tablets. In the case of phones it could include the time and duration of a phone call but not the content.

HI-TECH SOFTWARE PINPOINTS AUSSIE JIHADISTS

ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED FOR AUSSIE JIHADISTS

It is believed the government will wait until a senate inquiry into intelligence and data collection reports in late August before a further meeting of NSC to approve a bill to take to parliament later this year. However, it is believed Attorney-General George Brandis and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull will work on an interim data retention measure, with industry, to be introduced as early as September to meet what spy agencies claim is an immediate need in the face of heightened fears of potential terrorist ­attacks on Australian soil.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Is this appropriate or overkill? Tell us your thoughts below

The data retention laws, adopted by the UK last month after advice from MI6 of increased terrorism threats in Europe, are the most controversial of a package of new national security and counter terrorism laws to be unveiled today after going to cabinet.

While they would seek only to make mandatory what many companies already do for their own business and marketing purposes — and would not involve more powers for ASIO than it ­already has — they have been vigorously opposed by the companies and privacy advocates.

The government will today unveil national security legislative changes — first revealed by The Daily Telegraph — in response to the recent phenomenon of Australian jihadists fighting abroad. Mr Brandis has labelled the domestic threat to ­national security the most serious “in decades”.

Mr Brandis confirmed he wanted mandatory data retention, with appropriate privacy safeguards for citizens and protections for the telcos, introduced this year. It is possible it may be early next year before legislation is ready.