Federal education minister Simon Birmingham says he's uncomfortable control orders for teens as young as 14 are necessary, but youth radicalisation is a reality.
"We need to recognise that the terrible incident (recently) was committed by a 15-year-old," he told Sky News on Tuesday.
It was ridiculous to consider schools and teachers the sole solution to tackling radicalisation, because they were part of a comprehensive solution involving the community and families, he said.
Federal Labor has said it is willing to consider proposals to reduce to 14 the age at which control orders can be imposed on terror suspects, but is concerned they may go too far.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told reporters in Canberra flagged counter-terrorism measures could be seen as "draconian" and would require calm consideration.
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The government needed to be careful not to "ostracise young people or push them further into the arms of those who would do harm to Australian society and Australians"," he said.
NSW opposition leader Luke Foley says he supports the government's push for significantly tougher anti-terror laws but wants to see more detail about why periods of detention should be increased.
NSW Premier Mike Baird has written to the prime minister saying the state government wants terrorism suspects to be able to be kept in custody for up to four days without charge, with a court able to extend the period to 28 days.
He's also seeking to lower the age threshold for control orders from 16 to 14 years, which Mr Foley said on Tuesday he supported.
