Australia has to "drain the swamp" of extremism by tackling those who would do the country harm as well as those who could be radicalised, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.
To that end, the nation's leaders agreed on Friday to a new national counter-terrorism strategy with a fresh focus on working with communities to identify and manage those at risk of radicalisation.
Mr Abbott said Australia's counter-terrorism agencies were working well together and their co-operation had never been more effective.
But as well as dealing with those determined to do us harm, it was also important to try to ensure the mindset susceptible to the death-cult ideology was also dealt with.
"We have to drain the swamp ... of extremism as well as ensure that the nasties hiding in the swamp are dealt with whenever they're attempting to emerge," he told reporters after the Council of Australian Governments meeting in Canberra.
The COAG communique noted that since its previous meeting in October, two innocent lives had been lost in the Martin Place siege.
As well, about 100 Australians were fighting with terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria, with 140 active supporters in Australia.
Domestic spy agency ASIO is running about 400 high-priority investigations, which is double the number a year ago.
NSW Premier Mike Baird said police and security agencies were working well together to prevent attacks.
The emphasis now had to be about working with communities to prevent the radicalisation of vulnerable youth.
"Really, that's the next stage of the counter-terrorism measures," he said.
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