Senator calls for federal terrorist prison

Crossbench senator Derryn Hinch has called for a federal prison to house people convicted of terrorist offences after the NSW government announced a similar measure.

The independent senator also expressed support for holding people as young as 14 who were under terrorism alert for up to two weeks without charge.

"I think times are tough and tough things have to be done, so I accept that," he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.