Australia's focus turns to preventing vehicle attacks after Barcelona

People gather at a memorial tribute of flowers, messages and candles to the victims on Barcelona's historic Las Ramblas. Photo / AP

Managers and staff of crowded public places in Australia will have government and police help to plan to detect and deter terrorist attacks with vehicles like those seen in Barcelona, Nice and London.

Australians have to return to the "be alert but not alarmed" mentality, senior Turnbull government ministers warn.

In the wake of the attack in Barcelona - in which a vehicle was once again used to mow down innocent people in a crowded area - Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will unveil a new counter-terrorism strategy today.

Venue owners and operators will be given government and police help for security audits of their facilities to determine any weaknesses and develop strategies to strengthen and fortify such places.

There will be a greater use of permanent bollards to separate vehicles from pedestrians and more use of police and security agencies around mass gatherings.

Cabinet minister Arthur Sinodinos said it couldn't be guaranteed there would be no attacks in Australia, but measures could be taken to deter, detect and ameliorate any consequences.

People had to get used to thinking about what they could do to give a greater chance of deterring someone from doing something. "For a long time in Australia we've just had a mentality of live and let live and that we can walk around doing whatever we want," he told ABC TV. "Now we have to have more of that "be alert but not alarmed" mentality."

Cabinet colleague Darren Chester reiterated the importance for security agencies of maintaining constant vigilance. "It is a constant battle for us. It is a tragic reflection of our times that we need to be taking these sorts of measures," he told ABC TV.

The new plan - called Australia's Strategy For Protecting Crowded Places From Terrorism and developed since the Nice attack in July 2016 - was given to Australian businesses and councils last week.

It will provide a do-it-yourself toolkit on installing bollards and planters, and other methods of mitigating a hostile vehicle attack to businesses, councils and private operators. It also provides guidelines on chemical attacks and what should be done in such instances.

- AAP