Final counter-terrorism laws cap off 2016

The federal government capped off the 2016 parliamentary year by passing the last remaining piece of counter-terrorism legislation.

Laws that will allow high-risk terrorist offenders to be kept behind bars once their prison sentence ends cleared the lower house late on Thursday night.

Several amendments were made to the original proposal to improve safeguards and oversight following recommendations by a parliamentary committee.

"The scheme is a necessary response to the serious threat that terrorism poses to Australia and its people," Justice Minister Michael Keenan told MPs.

It was the third national security bill to pass in the final sitting fortnight of the year, and eight tranche overall.

The continuing detention scheme, backed by Labor, has a sunset period of 10 years.