A dispute has erupted over terror training exercises planned for the Queen Victoria Building in central Sydney, with a security specialist describing them as a “media stunt”.

Critics claimed the exercise will alert terrorists to one of Australia’s softest terror targets.

Roger Henning, director of Homeland Security Asia Pacific, described the exercise as a dumb and dangerous public relations stunt.

“Counter Terrorism is about saving lives, not using a media stunt to endanger lives,” Mr Henning said in a press release.

“The golden rules in counter terrorism, are to never arm your enemy with free information, or bait a radicalised Islamic extremist to have a go at a high profile site,” Mr Henning later told The New Daily.

American security companies are now aggressively marketing such programs to businesses around the country, and the exercise therefore has national implications.

The QVB is a huge tourist attraction for tourists in Sydney. Photo: Getty

The QVB, as it is widely known, is a famous Romanesque Revival style building built in the late 1800s which has been transformed into an upmarket shopping centre.

With a spate of terrorist attacks on soft targets around the world, including clubs and public celebrations, next week, for the first time, staff will be taken through what to do in the case of mass casualty event.

Spokeswoman for the QVB Taryn McGurk said the exercise was to teach shopkeepers how to deal with armed individuals and to ensure the highest level of safety procedures were enforced.

One retailer said: “We are a high-risk tourist building so we need to know what to do if there is ever a situation like this.”

Mr Henning said the QVB was an easy target for terrorism.

“Easy access to the QVB on foot, after arriving by bus, train, or entry from its own underground carpark, is an open invitation to a lone wolf attacker, or for a terrorist cell to stage a co-ordinated suicide bombing.

He said the most ludicrous aspect of the exercise was the publicity surrounding it.

“The naivety of the person responsible at the QVB for sensationalising a security need, with footage of an ‘active shooter’ training exercise, aired on TV, is a real cause for concern.”

Other experts disagreed, saying a display of capability is essential.

‘Not stupid at all’: expert

One of Australia’s most senior counter terrorism experts Allan Behm, former head of the international security divisions with both the Department of Defence and the Attorney General’s Department, told The New Daily the QVB exercise was a good idea. Not to do so would be like never having a fire drill.

The QVB is a soft target for terrorism. Photo: Getty

“These people don’t need tuition on what is a soft target,” he said.

“The threat doesn’t get worse because you identify it. It only gets worse if you don’t identify it.”

Terror expert at the Australian National University Dr Clarke Jones, who helped man the Terror Intelligence Centre for the Sydney Olympics in 2000, told The New Daily it was vital the government and various security agencies show capability.

“It is not a stupid idea at all,” he said. “Australia’s counter terrorism experts have have all highlighted concerns over soft targets, shopping centres, train stations, anywhere large crowds gather. It is very important for the public to be able to see a security presence,”

***Active Shooter Guidelines for Places of Mass Gatherings, aimed particularly at business, can be downloaded from the Australian National Security website here.

***Improvised Explosive Device Guidelines for Places of Mass Gatherings can be downloaded here.

Note *** Following a change to the classification system, the National Terrorism Threat Level for Australia has changed from High to Probable. This means credible intelligence, assessed by our security agencies indicates that individuals or groups have developed both the intent and capability to conduct a terrorist attack in Australia. The government urges the public to exercise caution and report any suspicious incidents.