The Federal Government has passed new counter-terrorism measures allowing convicted terrorists to be kept in jail once their sentences expire, should they be deemed a risk to society.

Key points: Attorney-General can apply for an extension 12 months before a convicted terrorists sentence expires

Attorney-General can apply for an extension 12 months before a convicted terrorists sentence expires George Brandis says courts will need to evaluate risks posed by prisoners by relying on admissible evidence

George Brandis says courts will need to evaluate risks posed by prisoners by relying on admissible evidence Other amendments ensure a prisoner can call on an expert of their choice to make a case in court

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called for Australia's terrorism laws to strengthened earlier this year after high-profile terror attacks in Orlando, Nice and Paris.

The legislation allows Attorney-General George Brandis to be able to apply for an extension 12 months before a sentence expires, rather than six months as originally proposed.

The bill was shaped by 23 amendments proposed by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, led by Liberal MP Michael Sukkar.

Senator Brandis told the Chamber that courts would need to evaluate the risks posed by prisoners by relying on admissible evidence, rather than legal definitions.

"It could be always asserted that there is a reasonable doubt as to whether a prisoner convicted of a serious terrorism offence would be pose an unacceptable level of risk," he said.

"The criminal standard of proof is in fact a very rigid standard and it is just not apt to apply to a decision that involves a degree of evaluation of this kind."

Other amendments ensure a prisoner can call on evidence from a relevant expert of their choice to make a case in court.

The law will also exclude officers convicted of treason or those publishing recruitment material.

A 10-year sunset clause with mandatory reviews has also been ensured.

'The rule of law must not be abandoned'

Law Council of Australia president Stuart Clark said he was pleased the Government had listened to experts and passed the bill with amendments.

"The Federal Government and Parliament have a fundamental responsibility to mitigate the risk of terror attacks," he said.

"However, the rule of law must not be abandoned in the process."

Mr Clark said the Law Council was still concerned about threshold tests and how the safety of prisoners would be judged.

"That said, this is a more balanced piece of legislation than was originally proposed earlier in the year," he said.

Civil liberties groups expressed concern about the proposed laws earlier this year claiming they were a distraction and window-dressing.