The government plans to introduce new laws that would force tech companies to unlock the encrypted messages of terrorists and other criminals, and give them to Australia's spy agencies.
The legislation will also give intelligence agencies stronger powers to remotely conduct surveillance on the phones of terrorists and child abusers.
The Turnbull Government says it will not force internet companies like Facebook, Google and Apple to build flaws into their systems that could be cracked by law enforcement agencies.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told the Seven Network the new laws would give the government the same power over internet and tech companies as it currently does over telcos.