Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australians will be protected against the "incitement of genocide" as part of new counter-terrorism laws to be introduced into Parliament next month.

Key points: NSW Government requests terrorism suspects as young as 14 should be closely monitored

NSW Government requests terrorism suspects as young as 14 should be closely monitored George Brandis is comfortable with proposed laws

George Brandis is comfortable with proposed laws Mike Baird requests increase in time suspects can be held

Mike Baird requests increase in time suspects can be held Council of Civil Liberties says proposed changes would breach human rights

Law changes requested by the New South Wales Government and agreed to by Attorney-General George Brandis could also see young people closely monitored under potential laws aiming to lower the age of control orders from 16 to 14.

The NSW Government has written to Mr Turnbull criticising existing anti-terrorism laws as inadequate and calling for them to be strengthened.

Mr Turnbull said the proposed changes to control orders had been underway for a considerable time.

"You may well think that it has particular relevance given the events at Parramatta, but it is something that has been in the works, as I said, between the attorneys general and justice ministers working from every jurisdiction for some considerable time," he said.

Mr Turnbull later told Parliament the Government was being agile in its approach to terror threats.

"The bill, among other things, will lower the age of a control order from 16 to 14 years of age," he said.

"It will facilitate the monitoring of the individual subject to control orders, provide greater protection to sensitive information in control order proceedings and protect against the incitement of genocide."

Mr Turnbull said that since December, 24 people have been charged as a result of nine counter-terrorism operations.

"That's more than a third of all terrorism-related arrests since 2001," he said.

Senator Brandis told the ABC he was comfortable with the proposed laws — to be introduced in three to four weeks — saying Islamic State militants were reaching out to younger people in Australia.

"Fourteen is not too young an age for an order of this kind to be made," he said.

"Under the legislation, there will be particular protections and safeguards for minors in the 14 to 17 age category.

"There will be various measures that will limit the capacity of police to question or deal with minors in a way which is regarded — given the age of the person — to be unreasonable."

Control orders explained It can stop someone from visiting certain places, communicating with certain people, leaving Australia and owning or using certain things, including technology

It can stop someone from visiting certain places, communicating with certain people, leaving Australia and owning or using certain things, including technology It can also require them to wear a tracking device, not leave a certain place for a specified time and report to someone at a certain time and place

It can also require them to wear a tracking device, not leave a certain place for a specified time and report to someone at a certain time and place Attorney General George Brandis says the Government's proposal to reduce the age of people who can be issued with control orders from 16 to 14 will include extra safeguards for people under 18

Attorney General George Brandis says the Government's proposal to reduce the age of people who can be issued with control orders from 16 to 14 will include extra safeguards for people under 18 It can be issued to someone who has not been charged with an offence as long as the AFP gets the permission of a court and the federal Attorney-General

It can be issued to someone who has not been charged with an offence as long as the AFP gets the permission of a court and the federal Attorney-General The Attorney-General's Department website says a person can be subject to a control order "if it substantially helps prevent a terrorist attack", if they have been convicted of a terrorism offence, or if they have trained with a listed terrorist organisation

The Attorney-General's Department website says a person can be subject to a control order "if it substantially helps prevent a terrorist attack", if they have been convicted of a terrorism offence, or if they have trained with a listed terrorist organisation Under the current laws a control order can only be issued to someone under 18 for a maximum of three months

NSW Premier Mike Baird has also requested federal changes to extend the length of time terrorism suspects can be kept in custody for questioning.

Under current federal laws, a terrorism suspect can be kept in custody for up to four hours before a court application needs to be made to extend the detention period to up to eight days.

The NSW Government wants that changed so suspects could be held for up to four days, with a court able to extend the detention period to 28 days.

It also wants courts to be given more power to withhold sensitive information from terrorism suspects.

Senator Brandis said there was no legal impediment for the NSW Government to introduce its own laws extending the detention period, but said it may be unconstitutional for the Commonwealth to do so.

"Detention without charge could be seen, for an unreasonably long period, to be a form of executive detention and therefore in violation of Chapter Three of the Constitution," he said.

Sorry, this video has expired Control orders could prevent terrorist attacks - Barton

Deputy NSW Premier Troy Grant said the fatal shooting of a police accountant outside NSW Police headquarters in Parramatta earlier this month highlighted the need for change.

"Clearly the events of Parramatta have demonstrated to the whole country that 14 is the appropriate age that police need to have these [control order] powers to protect the community," he said.

"We'll continue to work with the Federal Government in other aspects of the legislation to give police more capacity to question and gather evidence from suspects than they are currently allowed to under the Commonwealth legislation."

Opposition frontbencher Richard Marles said Labor would work with the Government on the laws but stopped short of committing support.

Mr Marles said the issue "transcends politics" in the wake of the fatal Parramatta shooting.

"As events of these kinds occur, it's important that the law keeps pace with them," he said.

"We will listen to what the Government has to say, we want to get briefings ... we actually need to see what's being proposed here by the Government."

New laws 'a breach of human rights'

The NSW Council for Civil Liberties said existing laws were adequate and the proposed changes would be excessive.

Sorry, this video has expired Tougher terror laws 'another knee-jerk reaction'

"The proposed laws are undoubtedly going to be in breach of human rights standards," council president Stephen Blanks said.

"The idea of detaining 14-year-old children for questioning without charge, and secretly for long periods of time, should be obviously unacceptable to the whole community."

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Greg Barns from the Australian Lawyers Alliance said the proposed laws would further radicalise young Australians.

"The more oppression you provide to younger people, the more it spurs them on," Mr Barns told NewsRadio.

"The way to do it is to get in amongst these communities and get in amongst their leaders to ensure these young people are not being radicalised — but you don't do that by putting control orders on people."

Deakin University anti-terrorism expert Professor Greg Barton said control orders that limited movement and associations could prove useful.

"I think the control order, even for children as young as 14, with proper checks and balances and limits, may well be a productive thing because it's a way of protecting them from malign influence," he said.