Dr Christian Rowan, Liberal National Party MP for Moggill, has called for Australia to re-introduce the death penalty for specific terrorist acts.

“We need strong action against those people, whether Australian born citizens or otherwise,” Dr Rowan told Queensland state parliament during debate over a Counter Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.

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Dr Rowan said he supported the suspension of citizenship privileges such as Centrelink entitlements and that capital punishment for “certain or specified terrorist acts should also be considered”.

The MP also emphasised the need to curb youth radicalisation using “practical programs to address social, economic and educational disadvantage”.

Dr Rowan described the radicalisation of young Queenslanders as “deeply disturbing” and “tragic” and argued prisons, instead of rehabilitating, were often breeding grounds for extremist sentiments.

The member for Moggill is a former president of the Australian Medical Association, which released an ambiguous statement regarding capital punishment in April this year.

“While we have a longstanding policy that doctors should not be involved in capital punishment in any way, and that to do so is in direct conflict with a doctor’s duty to serve humanity, we did not have a formal position on the broader, social issue of the death penalty itself,” it said.

“The AMA advocates that, as members of the medical profession, we cannot condone the use of capital punishment.”

The leader of Dr Rowan’s party, opposition leader Lawrence Springborg, said the MP’s views did not reflect the party’s.

“We have no problem with people advocating their views, but it doesn’t mean that they are able to have their view have majority support,” Mr Springborg said.