A Senate committee has found key elements of the Government's proposed Foreign Fighters Bill are incompatible with human rights.

The legislation being debated in the Senate will allow the Government to suspend passports at short notice, and make it an offence to travel to certain areas without a valid reason.

It would also be made an offence to "advocate terrorism", with offenders facing five years in jail if they "counsel, promote, encourage or urge the doing of a terrorist act".

The bipartisan committee, chaired by Liberal senator Dean Smith, has cast doubt on the need for the new travel offence, and said it was likely to infringe on the right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.

The committee recommended delaying the introduction of other measures relating to the expansion of powers for security agencies until they have been scrutinised by the national security legislation watchdog.

It also noted the "apparent urgency" with which the legislation was being passed through the Parliament was obstructing proper scrutiny.

A raft of new counter-terrorism laws are being introduced in three stages and aim to bolster the powers of security agencies and make it easier to identify and prosecute Australians involved in terrorist activities.

The Foreign Fighters Bill is part of the second phase of the Government's anti-terror measures.

The first phase of the Government's national security crackdown is already law, including tough restrictions on media reporting of special intelligence operations.

The National Security Legislation Amendment Bill will make it easier for security agencies to access personal computers and spy on Australians overseas.

Under the new laws, the penalty for disclosing secret information is increased to up to 10 years' imprisonment - a measure that could lead to journalists being jailed.