Road bollards are to be installed in crowded areas around Melbourne, as part of an upgrade in security measures announced by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to prevent terrorism and hinder vehicle attacks.
The move follows a recent spate of terror attacks at home and abroad, including the fatal siege in Brighton on Monday.
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New security measures for Melbourne's CBD
Concrete bollards are being placed around Melbourne's CBD as a response to recent terrorism threats.
The state government and City of Melbourne have begun installing the temporary concrete blocks in Bourke Street Mall and along the northern edge of Federation Square.
Mr Andrews said although money was set aside in the budget to upgrade security, including improvement to CCTV and permanent bollards, a rapid response was needed to ensure public safety.
![Temporary concrete bollards installed around Federation Square on Saturday.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170613163526im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/o/k/j/2/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwokeu.png/1497111405354.jpg)
"We weren't going to wait around for six months or twelve months while planter boxes are built so they look better," he said.
"There's no time to be wasted here. The threat of terror - the threat of hostile vehicle attacks, the threats to public safety - are all too real."
A siren system will also be part of the $10 million safety upgrade.
Mr Andrews has also reinforced his confidence in the government's deradicalisation program despite growing concerns it was ineffective.
![Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media as concrete bollards are installed at Federation Square.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170613163526im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/o/k/j/1/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwokeu.png/1497111405354.jpg)
It comes after revelations Brighton gunman Yacqub Khayre was involved in a state-run deradicalisation program in the six months leading up to Monday's deadly siege.
Police confirmed Khayre was referred to the program designed to counter Islamic extremism after his release from jail in December last year – seven years after he travelled to Somalia to train with terrorist organisation Al-Shabab.
![Concrete bollards will be in Federation Sqaure and Bourke Street Mall this weekend.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170613163526im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/o/k/i/z/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwokeu.png/1497111405354.jpg)
"There a number of Victorians that are involved in those deradicalisation programs many experts would point to those and have pointed to those programs as being the best provided anywhere," Mr Andrews said.
"These are very difficult programs; it's not easy work, but experts have pointed to our programs as being some of the best anywhere, but they are always under review."
![Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media about the states increased security measures.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170613163526im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/o/k/j/c/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwokeu.png/1497111405354.jpg)
When asked whether the recent Brighton siege demonstrated a new readiness for police to shoot and kill when officers believed terrorism was a factor, the Premier said there has been no change to the policy and lethal force would continued to be used where it is appropriate.
"There is a professional standards process that has to run its course in terms of the conduct of those members," Mr Andrews said.
![Bollards in Bourke Street Mall, where pedestrians and shoppers were killed in the January rampage this year.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170613163526im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/o/l/q/0/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gwokeu.png/1497111405354.jpg)
"These are not matters that are made by politicians like me, they are spilt-second decisions made because of rigorous training, made because our Special Operations group and our critical response team are the best in Australia."
Mr Andrews also reiterated the need for preventative detention as part of extreme anti-terror measures being floated by the government.
He said terror laws should be expanded even though they would restrict the rights of some individuals.
However, there remained little detail about what form preventative detention could take.
"There is no proper facility for somebody who on all the available intelligence presents an unacceptable risk but has not yet committed a crime," he said.
"There is a gap and I intend to fill it in a fair and deliberate way. We would be dangerously wrong to think that reform to bail, reform to parole was the end of dealing with these threats."
The sites for the barriers have been identified by Victoria Police but Mr Andrews said for security reasons the locations will be announced as they are installed.