Police will be given the power to secretly search the homes of terror suspects under sweeping new laws to be introduced into parliament next week, it's been reported.
Under the proposed counter-terrorism laws, radical preachers who encourage others to engage in extremist acts could be jailed for up to five years, News Corp Australia reported on Saturday.
The proposed laws, expected to be introduced to parliament on Wednesday, follow police anti-terrorism raids in Sydney and Brisbane on Thursday.
The new powers include Foreign Minister Julie Bishop being able to declare regions or cities in countries where terror groups are active as proscribed places.
Those who travel to or remain in those areas would be liable to prosecution unless they could supply a valid explanation for their travel, such as visiting a family member or conducting humanitarian relief.
Police will also be given the power to conduct what amounts to covert search warrants on terror suspects' properties, enabling them to delay notification of a search warrant for up to six months, News Corps reports.
A new offence will also make it illegal for anyone to advocate a terrorist act, even if the act never occurs, and that offence will carry a maximum five-year jail term.
It could apply to Islamic extremists who encourage people to participate in the Syrian-Iraq jihad but also to white supremacists advocating violence against minorities.
News Corps also reports that three men among 15 arrested in Thursday's raids were held on preventive detention orders, allowing them to be detained without charge if police suspect an imminent terror attack.
The men have since been released.
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