ABC will surrender documents

The ABC's Four Corners program is preparing to hand over its tapes and notes of interviews with "Jihad" Jack Thomas that will form part of the Government's case to secure a permanent control order against the Muslim convert.

Four Corners executive producer Bruce Belsham confirmed that a subpoena was served at the ABC's Ultimo offices in Sydney, and also personally on journalist Sally Neighbour, late on Monday.

The ABC has until 9.30am tomorrow to provide the material to the Federal Magistrates Court, which on Sunday granted an interim control order on Mr Thomas, subjecting him to a midnight-to-dawn curfew and preventing him contacting terrorist figureheads such as Osama bin Laden.

It is understood the Australian Government Solicitor wants to use the material to boost the argument that Mr Thomas should be subjected to a more permanent control order.

ABC lawyers are currently poring over the material that was requested by the Australian Government Solicitor.

Mr Belsham confirmed the program would provide the material if it were legally obligated to do so.

"It's not unusual for us to receive subpoenas with requests for all material related to a program," he said.

The development comes as Attorney-General Philip Ruddock confirmed that other people had been considered as the subject of control orders, but refused to reveal who the targets were.

"There has been a good deal of consideration given to available evidence and whether or not control orders ought to be sought in other cases, but it is not helpful to speculate on those matters," Mr Ruddock said.

Peter Erman, the lawyer for former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib, said he believed his client had been considered for an order before, but thought it was unlikely he would be given one now.

Mr Ruddock said he had only commented on the interim control order's issue to correct "erroneous" statements made by Mr Thomas's brother, Les.

The Prime Minister declined to comment.