Former attorney-general Philip Ruddock says he is shocked by the Federal Government's decision to abolish a clause which prevented former Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks from selling his story.

For years the man who pleaded guilty to supporting terrorism in a US military commission has been blocked from profiting from his experience.

But earlier this year, the Federal Government introduced laws targeting the profits of serious and organised crime gangs, and buried in the bundle of legislation was a repeal concerning Hicks.

The changes to the law were never announced by the Government, according to Mr Ruddock, the Liberal MP and architect of the original measures.

In 2004, Mr Ruddock put the laws in place when he was attorney-general under former prime minister John Howard.

It changed the meaning of indictable offences in foreign countries to include those found under the then US military commission.

But the Federal Government has abolished the clause that Mr Ruddock set up and the former minister says he is shocked.

"The measure was included because it was likely that [David Hicks] would plead guilty to terrorism offences before a military commission," he said.

"It was to ensure that it wasn't before a court but before a military commission, [that] the normal principles would operate and I am quite shocked that the Government would repeal that measure and do it."

The proceeds of crime laws have always been a grey area in the Hicks case.

The military commission was later found to be invalid and the Australian laws have never been tested.

The attorney-general's department has confirmed the changes, but insists the federal law is broad enough to cover Hicks.

It says the Proceeds of Crime Act could be applied to Hicks should he profit from his conviction.