High risk terrorists to stay in jail

The federal government and state premiers have agreed to allow high-risk terrorist offenders to remain detained once their jail sentences end.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the meeting of the Council of Australian Government in Canberra on Friday agreed that the commonwealth would draw up draft legislation as soon as possible.

"It is an unfortunate reality that some convicted terrorists may not be rehabilitated at the end of their sentence and will continue to pose a risk to the community," he told reporters.

COAG agreed in principle to adopt the NSW model for a strengthened nationally consistent system for detaining terror suspects before they are charged.

NSW will introduce its legislation and consult with other states and territories.