The UK Foreign Office now ranks the terror threat in Australia as high – the same as in war-torn nations such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

Aon Risk Solutions Placement Manager Crisis Management Karina Rodriguez Diaz says the move reflects the Lindt cafe attack in Sydney last year and at least four terror plot arrests.

She told insuranceNEWS.com.au the risk in Australia is “definitely” growing as extremist groups call for attacks on Western soil.

“Most of the increased risk comes from opportunistic attacks from the so-called lone wolves, using more accessible weapons rather than large organised attacks that require complex planning and infrastructure.”

Awareness and preparation are the keys to responding, she says.

“Organisations need to ensure they are adequately covered against the risk of terrorism, but also need to understand the impact a terror attack can have on their business and their brand and reputation.

“Rather than exclusively relying on insurance, crisis management and business continuity plans, as well as training, are essential.”

In September the Abbott Government raised Australia’s terror alert level from medium to high.

And earlier this year Aon’s Terrorism and Political Violence Risk Map raised Australia’s risk rating from negligible to low, adding a terrorism peril.

The report cited increasing rivalry between extremist groups Al-Qaeda and Islamic State as a major cause of rising risk in a number of Western nations.