Hunt down these scum, Nats MP says

Australian politicians have expressed shock and anger at the deadly Paris terror attack which left 12 people dead.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott described it as a barbaric act, while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten labelled it "senseless and horrific".

Cabinet minister Malcolm Turnbull said the "murderous attack" on the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo was an attack on every free society and every journalist.

Nationals MP Andrew Broad didn't mince his words: "May they hunt down and catch these scum," he tweeted.

Liberal MP Sarah Henderson called the attack "unspeakable horror", tweeting: "An evil attack on innocent journalists, free speech and democracy."

Another Liberal, Michael Sukkar, said "seemingly" Islamic terrorists were again trying to censor free speech through violent carnage.

Nationals senator Matthew Canavan said his heart went out to the people of Paris.

"Barbaric acts from barbaric people and I hope they are hunted down," he tweeted.

"What kind of deformed ideology think it brave or honourable to shoot unarmed and innocent people? It reflects their cowardice and weakness."

Liberal MP Alan Tudge said it was a dark day for Europe and the West.

"Our essential freedoms under attack," he tweeted.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd said the attack was "beyond obscenity".