NSW looks to toughen up anti-terror laws

NSW looks set to introduce tougher anti-terror laws, with the opposition supporting the plan but seeking further details about lengths of detention.

NSW Premier Mike Baird wants Australia to adopt UK-style counter-terrorism laws. (AAP) Source: AAP

NSW premier Mike Baird's bid to allow police to hold terror suspects for four weeks without charge is "window dressing" and will not stop young people being radicalised, say civil libertarians.

Mr Baird wants police to be given the power to keep suspects in custody for up to 28 days without charge and to lower the age from 16 to 14 years at which someone can be placed under a control order.

Mr Baird said the terror-linked murder of NSW police accountant Curtis Cheng outside Parramatta police headquarters on October 2 highlighted the need for change.

But the president of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties said the changes will not prevent future attacks.

"I don't think these proposed laws are a genuine attempt to make the community safer," Stephen Blanks told AAP.

"They are simply window-dressing to give the appearance of doing something."

Mr Blanks said community programs, engagement and educational initiatives are the only way to ensure people do not become alienated.

Federal laws provide for a terrorism suspect to be held in custody for up to four hours, but detention can be extended up to eight days by an order of the court.

"We have to take appropriate actions to ensure that our children are safe and our community is safe," Mr Baird told the parliament on Tuesday.

"There's a range of measures that we are considering, including within our schools, to counter the impact of radicalisation of our youth."

In a letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Baird said the NSW government wants courts to be given more power to withhold sensitive information from terrorism suspects as well as the lowering of the age threshold.

Opposition Leader Luke Foley said he supports the move to extend control orders to 14-year-olds but wants to know why longer periods of detention are necessary.

"We're willing to look at improvements to laws that strengthen our ability to combat terrorism, but we want to hear the substance before we sign up," Mr Foley said.

"We don't want to give the violent extremists the ability to say to Muslim kids that you can be locked up for a month just because you're Muslim."