Report from the ABC.

The Federal Government has cancelled the citizenship of Abdul Nacer Benbrika, one of Australia's most notorious terrorists, ahead of his expected release from a Victorian prison.

Benbrika was jailed for 12 years in 2008 for his role in a plot to attack a number of targets in Victoria and New South Wales.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton confirmed the Government had now revoked Benbrika's Australian citizenship.

"I cancelled the Australian citizenship of convicted terrorist Benbrika, [making him] the first individual to have lost citizenship onshore," he said.

"He has been notified of the citizenship loss and he will remain in prison while an interim detention order is in place."

The Government is trying to keep the Algerian-born cleric locked up in Victoria's Barwon Prison after his sentence has finished.

It has applied to the Victorian Supreme Court under Commonwealth laws that mean people who have been convicted of terror offences can be held in detention for up to three years after their sentence finishes.

A state or territory supreme court is needed to grant a Continuing Detention Order (CDO) applied for by the Home Affairs Minister.

Mr Dutton said he would not comment on the status of the Government's application as it was before the court.

"The Commonwealth's made its position very clear in relation to the risk we deem Benbrika to pose to the Australian public," he said.

ENDS