Labor has questioned the need for a new super department of homeland security to combat the rising terrorism threat.

Foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek says there is good co-operation between Australia’s security agencies.

“The proof of that is in the pudding,” she told Sky News.

“The fact that we have managed to keep Australians safe in the way that we have is evidence that the agencies are doing good work.”

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Some government members are pushing for a US-style department that absorbs the roles of ASIO, federal police and customs and border protection.

However Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says there is no such proposal before cabinet or the national security department.

“If there were such a proposal, it would have to demonstrate any current failures in co-operation between the intelligence agencies, federal and state police and defence and I am not aware of any such failures,” Ms Bishop told News Corporation Australia on Tuesday.