Counter-terrorism laws come under scrutiny

Laws that let Australian spies better help military in the fight against Islamic State extremists will come under scrutiny on Thursday.

A parliamentary committee will hear from human rights, civil liberties and Muslim groups as well as several security agencies during a public hearing on the bill in Canberra.

The laws, introduced to parliament in late October, aim to bring co-operation between the Australian Secret Intelligence Service and the Australian Defence Force in Iraq to the level seen in the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The committee has until next Monday to scrutinise the legislation and make recommendations for changes.

The NSW Council for Civil Liberties and Muslim Legal Network, which will front the inquiry on Thursday, are concerned at the speed the government wants to move the laws through parliament.

"The short time frame is an abuse of process and lays the foundation for reckless lawmaking," they told the committee.