The federal government is being urged by its own backbench MPs to clearly define the circumstances under which the military can be deployed in response to domestic terrorist events.
There are some concerns that proposed new powers could see the Australian Defence Force routinely dispatched to disturbances including political protests or industrial action.
Earlier this year, the government introduced legislation aimed at making it easier for the states and territories to enlist help from the ADF in response to mass violence and terror.
The changes were largely driven by the findings of several reviews into the deadly 2014 Lindt Cafe siege, which highlighted severe deficiencies in the call out powers.
The proposed legislation would make it easier for the military to assist in the event of widespread, coordinated attacks.
The ADF would be able to use legal force and pre-authorised to respond to threats on land, sea and in the air.
Its powers to search, seize and control movement at the scene of a terrorist incident would also be expanded, along with its ability to respond to events occurring in multiple jurisdictions.
Liberal and Labor members of a Senate committee have suggested the Commonwealth define, in legislation, the specific circumstances in which the ADF can be called upon.
However, the major parties still recommend that the draft laws be passed.
"The committee is satisfied that the bill includes strong safeguards to ensure that the call out of the ADF would only occur in limited circumstances," committee chair Ian Macdonald said in the report.
"The government might consider providing a clear definition of 'specified circumstances' in relation to contingent call out."
The Greens have provided a dissenting report demanding the changes be scrapped.
The minor party cited evidence from human rights lawyers, who told the committee deploying the military on to the streets of Australia and granting it the wide-ranging powers proposed in the bill was a serious issue.
It also highlighted a recommendation from civil libertarians that the bill be redrafted to address human rights issues, including the right to free speech, association and assembly.
"This bill overreaches its claimed aims considerably. It is a sledgehammer to crack a nut," Civil Liberties Australia said in its submission.
The legislation is before the lower house.
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