The Turnbull government has announced a suite of tough new laws banning foreign political donations, updated definitions for espionage, sabotage and treason, and a US-style foreign influence registry to tackle "unprecedented levels" of covert offshore influence in Australia.

Warning the threat of covert foreign interference is a problem of "the highest order and is getting worse", Attorney-General George Brandis announced the government would take up a series of recommendations from an internal review ordered by the Prime Minister in May.