Prime Minister Tony Abbott insists Australia's national security architecture must constantly evolve to meet the threat from terrorism, amid growing concerns about the lure of groups such as Islamic State.
Mr Abbott on Monday confirmed former ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty as Australia's first national counter-terrorism co-ordinator, while appointing Justice Minister Michael Keenan as the nation's first counter-terrorism minister.
The prime minister also said he would reveal more later this week about plans to revoke the citizenship of Australians who have become involved in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, including second-generation Australians.
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Plans to amend the Citizenship Act, flagged in February, acknowledged it was not just people who are serving with an enemy who were "at odds with the whole nature of citizenship".
Mr Abbott said it was important Australian authorities stay ahead of the game in the fight against terrorism.
"We must constantly evolve to meet an evolving terror threat and that's what today's announcements are all about."
Mr Moriarty, a former intelligence analyst, spent four years in Jakarta as ambassador working closely with security agencies, including on counter-terrorism, and had involvement in Operation Sovereign Borders. He was also previously ambassador to Iran.
The new counterterrorism co-ordination office will operate within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Mr Moriarty will not direct operations of any particular agency, but he will have authority across agencies to ensure that all are working together.
Mr Moriarty said it would be an "incredibly demanding and complex role" but that he was looking forward to supporting the prime minister and doing "this vitally important work".
Mr Keenan will take on a new role as minister assisting the prime minister on counter terrorism, co-ordinating the government's extensive security and non-security efforts to combat home-grown terrorism.
Both Mr Keenan and Mr Moriarty will attend all counter-terrorism-related discussions of cabinet's national security committee.
The developments come amid ever-growing concerns about the threat from violent extremism, an increase in the rate of disrupted attacks and the lure of groups such as Islamic State.
There have been two terrorist attacks disrupted in Melbourne in the past month, and six since the terror alert level was raised in September.
Twenty-three people people have been charged in Australia as a result of eight counter-terrorism operations since September.
It's estimated about 100 Australians are fighting in Syria and Iraq and another 155 people in Australia are supporting those individuals or groups involved in the conflicts.
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