Security advisors to Prime Minister Tony Abbott yesterday warned of an increasing risk that Australia will be the target of a terrorist attack and, as a result, the  police presence at public events, including this weekend’s NRL clashes and the Sydney Running Festival, have been upgraded.

On Thursday, NSW Police launched Operation Hammerhead, which will see 220 police swamp major precincts, including stadiums, major landmarks and government centres.

However, at this point there are no plans to change security arrangements already in place for the Bathurst 1000, which gets underway on Friday, October 10. 

Inspector Brett Smith said yesterday that people should go about their normal business, despite the national security upgrade.

“There has been absolutely no threat whatsoever,” he said.

“It’s business as usual.

“People in the community and business owners should go about their daily lives as usual; despite the heightened risk there has been no threat, it just means police forces are more vigilant,”he said.

Inspector Smith said metropolitan policing numbers were not being bolstered by regionally-based officers.

“No one is being seconded, no one being brought back from days off,” he said.

Inspector Smith said no changes to security at the Bathurst 1000 had been made at this stage.

“At this point it is still a few weeks off,” he said.

“We are always looking at our intelligence. When and if it’s necessary, if something needs to be changed, it will be.

“Police will continue their open lines of communication with the community.

“But what happened in Sydney is in Sydney. [As far as safety and security] for this area is concerned it’s a non event,” he said.