Officers from the highly covert Australian Secret Intelligence Service could soon be permitted to shoot enemies who pose a risk to other people involved in their overseas undercover operations.

Key points: Foreign Minister Marise Payne says officers "often work in dangerous locations … to protect Australia"

Foreign Minister Marise Payne says officers "often work in dangerous locations … to protect Australia" Government argues laws governing use of force by officers have not undergone significant change since 2004

Government argues laws governing use of force by officers have not undergone significant change since 2004 There is a standing prohibition against the use of violence by intelligence officers

Under current legal arrangements, ASIS officers are only able to use their weapons for self-protection, or to protect those working with the spy agency.

On Thursday the Morrison Government will introduce new laws to Parliament allowing ASIS staff to use "reasonable force" during their overseas missions to protect other parties such as hostages.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the new powers were needed because ASIS officers "often work in dangerous locations, including under warlike conditions, to protect Australia and our interests".

"As the world becomes more complex, the overseas operating environment for ASIS also becomes more complex," Senator Payne said in a statement.

The Government argues that the Intelligence Services Act provisions relating to the use of force by ASIS have not undergone significant change since 2004, despite the overseas spy agency being asked to carry out more dangerous missions in new places and circumstances unforeseen 14 years ago.

"The changes will mean officers are able to protect a broader range of people and use reasonable force if someone poses a risk to an operation," Senator Payne said.

The Foreign Minister insisted ASIS's watchdog would continue to have an important oversight role on the use of weapons and use of force by the intelligence service.

"Like the existing ability to use weapons for self-defence, these amendments will be an exception to the standing prohibitions against the use of violence or use of weapons by ASIS," she said.

In 2014 the ABC revealed an Australian special forces soldier had pulled a handgun on an ASIS spy during a drinking session in Afghanistan a year earlier.