The nation's judges and magistrates have slammed an attack by federal Coalition ministers on their Victorian colleagues, calling it "unfounded, grossly improper and unfair".

Key points: Senior Coalition members suggest problems with the way Victorian judges hand down terror offence sentences

Senior Coalition members suggest problems with the way Victorian judges hand down terror offence sentences Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus slammed the Coalition for attacking "the rule of law"

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus slammed the Coalition for attacking "the rule of law" Body representing judges and magistrates calls comments "coordinated attack" on independence of judiciary

Body representing judges and magistrates calls comments "coordinated attack" on independence of judiciary Victoria considering laws to detain teenage terror suspects without charge

Three members of Malcolm Turnbull's frontbench described the Victorian judiciary as weak when it came to sentencing people for terrorism offences.

Those comments angered the Opposition, which says the Government should be defending the rule of law rather than attacking it.

The Judicial Conference of Australia, which represents the nation's judges and magistrates, said it amounted to a "coordinated and direct attack on the character and independence of the Victorian judiciary".

"These comments are a slur on the character of the Victorian judiciary," the Conference's president Justice Robert Beech-Jones said.

The Prime Minister roundly criticised the Victorian parole system last week after a 29-year-old man on parole launched a terror attack in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton.

State and territory leaders have since agreed to make it harder for people linked to terrorism to get bail or parole, while Victoria is considering new laws that could see teenagers suspected of planning a terrorist act detained without charge for up to 14 days.

But senior members of Mr Turnbull's Government have suggested there are serious problems with the way Victorian judges are dealing with punishing those found guilty.

"Comments by senior members of the Victorian courts endorsing and embracing shorter sentences for terrorism offences are deeply concerning — deeply concerning," Health Minister and Victorian MP Greg Hunt told The Australian.

"The Andrews Government should immediately reject such statements and sentiments.

"The state courts should not be places for ideological experiments in the face of global and local threats from Islamic extremism that has led to such tragic losses."

Victoria's Court of Appeal has also raised concerns about differences in sentencing for terrorism offences when comparing Victoria to New South Wales.

Sevdet Besim was sentenced to 10 years for planning an attack on Anzac Day ( Instagram )

Chief Justice Marilyn Warren said courts north of the border appeared to put greater emphasis on denouncing crime and sending a message to others in the community, rather than the personal circumstances of a criminal.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) is challenging the 10-year head sentence and seven-and-a-half-year minimum imposed on Anzac Day terrorism plotter Sevdet Besim by Victoria's Supreme Court last year.



"No-one should be suggesting that tough terrorism sentences are a bad thing," Human Services Minister and Victorian MP Alan Tudge told Sky News.

"I don't think the Australian people can say you can have a tough enough terrorism sentence, in my view."

Assistant Minister to the Treasurer Michael Sukkar joined the criticism in The Australian.

"It's the attitude of judges like these which has eroded any trust that remained in our legal system," he said.

Judicial Conference defends judges' right to comment on sentencing

His comments angered those on the bench, who this morning launched a strident defence of their independence.

"It was not inappropriate for members of the court to consider and comment upon sentences imposed in other states," Justice Beech-Jones said.

"To the contrary, the judges were required to do so as part of their duty to address the submissions of the parties, including the CDPP.

"The only statements that serve to undermine confidence in the legal system were those of the ministers and not of the court."

South Australian Coalition frontbencher Simon Birmingham was not prepared to go as hard as his colleagues.

"We do need to make sure that state law and order policies hold up their end of the bargain in terms of keeping Australia safe," Senator Birmingham told reporters in Canberra.

"The Turnbull Government has demonstrated a willingness to take those issues on with the states and territories."

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said the Coalition was out of line.

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"Comments by government ministers today criticising senior members of the Victorian judiciary are disgraceful and wildly inappropriate," Mr Dreyfus said.

"These attacks on the independence of our judiciary amount to an attack on our democracy.

"Our judges, no matter which government they were appointed by, must be free to do their job without political interference."