New laws will crack down on those who incite terrorism but Attorney-General George Brandis denies Islamic preachers will be specifically targeted.

Parliament is set to debate moves to expand the Australian spy agency’s powers from Monday and Senator Brandis will introduce a foreign fighters bill to the Senate on Wednesday which includes measures to criminalise terrorism advocacy.

People who intentionally counsel, promote, encourage or commission terrorism acts could face up to five years in jail.

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Senator Brandis denied the focus was on Islamic preachers.

“This is a law of general application, it’s not directed at any section of the community,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

He said it was against the government’s DNA to impose limitations on freedom of speech.

“But there’s all the difference in the world between expressing opinions and inciting violence,” he said.

The draft laws will also clamp down on people suspected of travelling to overseas conflict zones.

The foreign minister will gain the power to declare an area a “no-go zone”, criminalising visits unless the person qualifies for an exemption category such as aid work or journalism.

Labor has previously raised concerns about the onus of proof being reversed.

But Senator Brandis said there would be evidentiary onus available as a defence.

The opposition has been briefed on the foreign fighters draft legislation but has not seen its final form and will reserve its decision until Wednesday.

“I am confident the opposition will be satisfied that these measures are needed,” Senator Brandis said.

He also flagged changes to control orders, which would allow authorities to obtain them from courts in emergency situations without attorney-general input.

The orders place restrictions on suspects such as curfews, electronic monitoring tags and telecommunications restrictions.

“It is a gap in the capacity of the police and intelligence agencies to monitor people about whom there is a serious level of concern … (but not) enough evidence to prosecute,” Senator Brandis said.

Palmer United Party Senator Jacqui Lambie said the government was “heading in the right direction” on home-grown terrorism.

“It needs to put its foot down. There is no 50 per cent – it needs to go in hard and fast,” she told ABC television.

Asked if the PUP would support the new laws, she said: “I would certainly hope so, yes.

“They can certainly rely on me, put it that way.”