Bring back death penalty: Lambie

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie says Australia should bring back the death penalty for citizens who fight for terrorist organisations overseas.

Senator Lambie had previously called for citizenship to be revoked, but took it a step further on Friday morning, calling for courts to have the ability to sentence terrorists returning to Australia to death.

"I'm asking that everyone who assists any of the terrorists trying to take out our defence force personnel, that the death penalty be introduced," she told Southern Cross Austereo radio.

"But that should be determined by the jury.

"I want to give them the option, for terrorism only."

While she concedes there is little chance she will get the numbers to support the idea, Senator Lambie says it's good to bring issues like this to the public's attention.

Her statement comes just a day after Australian David Hicks was cleared of his terrorism conviction by an American military court, after spending more than five years as a prisoner at US Navy base Guantanamo Bay.