The security laws the Government are expected to push through Parliament this week may well be the most shocking assault on civil liberties in Australia's history, writes Senator David Leyonhjelm.

Both the Government and Opposition have realised you cannot be a hero unless you first make people believe there is a crisis. With that in mind, we are now dealing with poorly thought out legislation - known as the Foreign Fighters Bill - that will supposedly protect us from terrorists.

The problem is, it will also throw out many of our basic rights. In no particular order, here are seven reasons you should be seriously concerned:

1. It is rushed

Legal experts tell me the legislation has all the signs of a rush job, including typographical errors. Everyone needs to take a deep breath. The real risk of terrorism must be addressed, but I promise there will not be any Muslims hiding under your bed any day this week or the next. It is far more important to get this legislation right than to rush it through.

While Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten were busy trying to prove whose chest is the hairiest on security, legislation giving additional powers to ASIO blew through the Senate recently like a southerly change.

It seems that only now are people waking up to the fact that some appallingly draconian law has been passed, and is here to stay. So it is with the proposed Foreign Fighters law: times may change but bad legislation will remain.

2. Delayed notification 'warrants'

Having your warrant notification delayed sounds like it could be a minor inconvenience. But in fact, what we are talking about is a law allowing the cops to break and enter your property and tell you about it later.

What's more, they may also enter your home in order to enter the property of a neighbour.

If this legislation is passed, what will be the difference between a burglar and the Federal Police? Not much, except that the Feds will be obliged to send you a letter within six months telling you about it ... unless, of course, they get an extension.

3. Secrecy provisions

The secrecy rules attached to delayed notification warrants mean anyone - journalists, bloggers, Facebookers, town gossips - could be jailed for two years for merely telling others about the AFP's nocturnal activities, and in their defence could not argue the disclosure was in the public interest. This is a provision the East German secret police would have loved.

4. Promoting violence

The legislation proposes a new offence of "advocating terrorism", punishable by imprisonment of up to five years. People can already be arrested for incitement of violence, but this broadens the definition to include the promotion of violence. An organisation with only a few members "promoting" violence - whatever the Federal Police decides that means - can then be listed as a terrorist organisation.

Other members of such organisations - who do not even share these views - can be exposed to serious criminal offences. To take this to extremes: if a handful of NRMA members expressed enough hatred of cyclists or Volvo drivers, everybody in the NRMA could find themselves in a listed terrorist organisation.

5. Declared areas

In another provision reminiscent of laws beloved by authoritarian states, the Minister for Foreign Affairs will be allowed to declare certain areas off limits. If you travel there you will need to demonstrate you went to that place solely for a legitimate purpose, or risk imprisonment for 10 years.

The government has offered advice about where people could travel for a long time, but this takes it to a whole new level and sets a worrying precedent: next thing, the government will be telling you where you're allowed to take your annual leave.

6. Failure to explain why we need it

Australia's security organisations already have extensive powers available to them. Other than vague rhetoric about threats of terrorism, the Government has simply failed to explain why they need more power.

7. Assumption of good will

No matter how long and hard you look into the big brown eyes of George Brandis, it is not possible to imagine you are looking at a malevolent dictator. Indeed, you may also think that, on the whole, the people in our security organisations are good Australians like you and me.

But if you think that, you'd be falling into a trap.

History demonstrates that people of any colour or stripe can and do behave like animals. Many people who are drawn to security organisations have a fondness for power and its various applications, which may explain why some of the worst human rights abuses are carried out by people working for government agencies. When these actions are given the legislative sanctuary, people have nowhere to hide.

Senator Brandis might be a fair-minded bloke, but the security laws he is sponsoring may well be remembered as one of the most shocking assaults on civil liberties in Australia's history.

David Leyonhjelm is the Liberal Democrat Senator for NSW. View his full profile here.