Terror suspects face court in Cairns

Five men who allegedly planned to get to Indonesia in a small fishing boat so they could join Islamic State in Syria will face a Cairns court after being charged with terror offences.

The men, including Islamic preacher Musa Cerantonio, were arrested near Cairns on Tuesday towing a seven-metre fishing boat en route to Cape York in far North Queensland from Melbourne.

The five, aged between 21 and 31, are due to appear in Cairns Magistrates' Court on Monday where officers from the Australian Federal Police's joint counter terrorism teams will argue that they should be extradited to Melbourne.

They face a maximum penalty of life in jail if found guilty.