Professor Clive Williams, from the Australian National University's Centre for Military and Security Law, says the deaths of 84 people in the southern French city showed how vehicle attacks could be "almost spontaneous and based on opportunity targets".

"Use of a vehicle as a terrorist weapon means that there does not need to be much attack lead-time and it does not provide the usual indicators associated with a planned terrorist attack," he said.

"As a member of the US-led coalition against [Islamic State] and another prime IS target country, Australia needs to introduce vehicle exclusion zones when there are public events in Australia – an obvious potential target for vehicle attacks being Anzac Day parades."

An Australian War Memorial spokeswoman said on Saturday the institution took the security of its visitors, buildings and collection items very seriously and it worked closely with the federal police on all major events.

"Further discussion regarding the details of our security arrangements would be inappropriate," she said.

Anzac Parade is closed between Constitution Avenue and the front of the memorial from early on April 25 each year, with the connecting Limestone Avenue and Fairbairn Avenue also closed between the intersections with Treloar Crescent.

Terrorism and Insurgency Research Centre head Matthew Henman said both the so-called Islamic State and al-Qaeda have called for vehicle-impact attacks by their supporters in the West.

French media reported the driver of the 19-tonne truck in Nice shouted "Allahu Akbar" – God is greatest – but IS had not claimed responsibility for the attack as of Saturday afternoon and the terrorist's father said his son did not pray or fast.

Mr Henman said the attack was the fourth with a vehicle in France in the past two years, each in different cities, with suspected Islamist militants killing one and wounding 20 in two attacks in December 2014, then wounding a soldier in January this year.

A teenager accused of planning to run over, then behead, a police officer at a suburban Anzac Day service in Melbourne last year pleaded guilty last month to planning a terrorist act.

ACT Police Minister Simon Corbell said the ACT government constantly reviewed public safety, especially in light of world events such as in Nice.

"ACT Policing provide specialist advice to the government on security measures and the government will consider all recommendations to ensure the Canberra community remains safe at all times, including during major public events," he said.