Government issues strongest crackdown on pedophiles in a generation

Pedophiles face longer jail terms, mandatory minimum sentences and stricter supervision after release under a proposed federal government crackdown.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan has outlined the new laws which will also include tougher fines for internet companies that don't report abuse material.

"The sorts of sentencing that we've seen has quite frankly just been too light for the magnitude of these crimes," Mr Keenan told the TODAY Show today.

The minister questioned why only 58 per cent of child sex offenders received jail time and the average time they spend in prison was six months.

"Now, that does not reflect the damage they have done and the seriousness of their offending," he said.

Mr Keenan wants the minimum sentence to be 25 per cent of the maximum.

"There's no such thing as a lesser offending or a small Commonwealth child sex offence."

The government hopes to have the legislation passed by the end of the year.