The Australian Greens have welcomed Coalition support for amendments to strengthen the reporting obligations and functions of the National Security Legislation Monitor.

This morning the Senate passed legislation establishing the office to undertake the long overdue task of reviewing the complex and draconian array of anti-terrorism laws.

"The Government had proposed that the only reporting obligations of this office should be through sanitised annual reports edited by the Prime Minister's department. The Australian Greens strongly disagreed, and succeeded in passing amendments to provide for direct annual reporting to Parliament, as well as for the publication of reports on specific investigations," said Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.

"The Senate has agreed that the public has a right to know whether or not the terror laws are necessary, proportional and effective. If the Monitor is to be truly independent, we need to hear that directly from the Office established to ask these questions, not via the PM's office.

"I look forward to the Government agreeing to these amendments in the House of Representatives so that this office can finally get to work," Senator Ludlam concluded.

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