The amendment to the Forensic Procedures Act, which currently prohibits taking samples from children under 10, could not be used to prove the child had committed a crime.

Instead, police will be able use the samples to identify lost or abandoned children, identify dead people or locate missing people if other methods are exhausted.

Children could also undergo DNA testing to establish parentage in order to investigate crimes such as incest or statutory rape.

"The bill does not provide for the taking of DNA samples for the purposes of proving that child committed an offence," Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin said.

"The procedure can only be carried out with the consent of a parent or on the order of a magistrate."

The government is also planning to beef up security at the state's tribunals.

Currently, laws regulating entry into courts and the activities near them only apply to the Supreme and Magistrates courts.

"It does not cover the various boards and tribunals that are in operation, meaning that the security powers they have may be non-existent or limited in nature," she said.

"The proposed bill would extend coverage to any tribunal, body or person which hears, receives and examines evidence."