Palmer moves away from tough terror

Clive Palmer has distanced himself from a move by his Senate leader to substantially increase jail terms for anyone identifying undercover spies.

Palmer United Party (PUP) senator Glenn Lazarus successfully amended planned counter-terrorism laws so anyone who exposes an undercover ASIO operative could face up to 10 years behind bars instead of one.

"I didn't vote for that," Mr Palmer told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

The amended legislation is now before the House of Representatives.

The tough penalty has been labelled an attack on free press, with the journalists union saying it criminalised legitimate reporting of matters in the public interest.

Mr Palmer, when quizzed by reporters, repeatedly said he supported a free press and would "have to have a good look" at the legislation when it is considered by the lower house.

Asked if Senator Lazarus had gone rogue, Mr Palmer described him as a "free spirit".

"They (PUP's senators) have discussed that together and come up with that policy," he said, noting they did so in his absence last week.

Mr Palmer said all PUP policies were decided in the party room and then announced by him, "or it's not party policy".