Armed Australian Federal Police officers will soon be patrolling the corridors of the Australian Parliament's press gallery and security agencies plan to jam telephone and internet links in the event of a terrorist threat as part of a further ramping up of security at the national legislature.

Following discussions between the Federal Police, parliamentary officials and media bureau representatives last week, press gallery president David Speers told journalists that police patrols inside the Parliament will "soon" extend to the press gallery, which is located on the upper, third floor of the Senate wing of Parliament House.

On patrol: An AFP officer armed with an SR-16 stands guard at the front of Parliament House in Canberra in October. Credit:Andrew Meares

Mr Speers said AFP officers patrolling the gallery would not enter media offices and have no role in policing parliamentary rules governing the media, including restrictions on photography. However, the presence of the AFP remains a sensitive issue in relation to the protection of journalists' confidential sources and the AFP's role in investigating alleged leaks of government information.