Two men accused of trying to blow up a plane leaving Sydney could have been stopped sooner if officers were given greater powers at airports, Australian Federal Police deputy commissioner Leanne Close says.
Ms Close appeared before a parliamentary committee on Wednesday to give evidence about the proposed police powers.
Federal police can already approach people at airports to ask for identification, but can only demand it if they suspect a person has or are about to commit an offence punishable by at least 12 months behind bars.
Police now want the ability to carry out identity checks without cause, and are asking that officers be empowered to direct a person to leave an airport, or not take a flight, for up to 24 hours.
Ms Close said the alleged July 2017 plot highlighted "really critically" the deficiencies in police airport powers.
Two men are before the courts in connection with the alleged plot after pleading not guilty to planning a terrorist attack.
They were allegedly told to smuggle a bomb hidden inside a meat grinder onto an Etihad plane flying from Sydney to Abu Dhabi.
Ms Close said the men were allegedly seen conducting surveillance and speaking to staff inside the airport in the lead-up to the attempted attack.
"They were acting suspiciously at the time, we understand, through looking back at CCTV and other footage we have," the AFP deputy commissioner told the committee.
"In these circumstances, in the current environment, if our officers saw those people in the airport we would not have the power to go and ask for their identification."
The men were stopped on the day of the alleged plot, prompting authorities to look back through security footage.
Ms Close was initially reluctant to say whether police would have used the proposed identity check powers in relation to the case.
But repeatedly pressed on the issue, the deputy commissioner confirmed it was likely her officers would have.
"If our officers were there and we had that power, yes, they'd be using them," Ms Close said.
The powers are designed to capture people caught taking photos of secure areas or cargo entry and exit points, as well as people loitering around luggage carousels or public areas with no clear purpose.
However, the peak body for Australian lawyers is concerned innocent citizens could be caught up by the laws.
Law Council director Gabrielle Bashir told the committee the laws needed to be clearer in stating what was meant by the "good order" of an airport and flights.
Ms Bashir said the laws should also allow for judicial review of decisions, including compensation for inconvenience of passengers.
