The federal government has announced an $86 million funding commitment to monitor Australia’s convicted terrorists once they have left jail.

The government will establish Australia’s first national convicted terrorist offender register, aimed at maintaining long-term supervision of people found guilty of terror crimes, who are considered high-risk when they leave prison.

Terrorism and security expert at Deakin University, Greg Barton, says there are 144 people in prison on terrorism charges, around 18 who will be released in the next few years.

“The numbers we are now facing, we need a new system,” he told Scott Emerson.

“We can’t keep people in prison indefinitely we have legislation which allows extended detention.”

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