Australian attorney general to discuss terrorist threat with allies

Australian attorney general George Brandis will fly to Britain on Thursday for important meetings with the country's closest allies in relation to the global terrorist threat.

Brandis will act as Australia's representative alongside officials from Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States when the Five Country National Security Ministers' Meeting begins in London on Thursday.

As well as a round-table meeting between the five countries, Brandis will also undertake bilateral discussions with each of the other four nations on issues regarding terrorism.

"I look forward to discussing emerging and long-term issues of critical importance to Australia's national security interests, including the implications of recent terrorist events around the world, such as the Martin Place siege, fatal incidents in Canada and the attacks in Paris," Brandis said in a statement released on Thursday.

"These terrorist incidents have highlighted the threat from extremists is real and not confined to Syria and Iraq," he said.

"A priority of mine will be counter-radicalization and the common challenge of protecting our communities, in particular our youth, from terrorist and extremist organizations and the propaganda they preach," he added.

"The meeting presents an important and timely opportunity for continued and enhanced collaboration and cooperation across the full range of national security matters," said Brandis.

Britain will be represented by its secretary of state, Canada by its minister of public safety, New Zealand by its attorney general and the United States by its secretary of the department of homeland security.

The meetings will run from February 5 until 7. Endi