Australia's terrorism alert level system will be changed in a bid to make it easier to understand.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Thursday announced the new five-tier system, agreed to by a Council of Australian Governments meeting in Sydney.
He hopes the new levels - certain, expected, probable, possible and not expected - will be simpler to comprehend.
It changes the categories from extreme, high, medium and low.
Australia's threat level was upgraded to high last year, two months before a gun-wielding Haron Man Monis locked down Sydney's Martin Place, taking 18 staff and customers of the Lindt Cafe hostage.
Three people were killed in the attack, including Man Monis.
A clearer system was recommended by the government's review of Australia's counter-terrorism machinery in February, and will be in place by the end of the year.
If the level is upgraded, the government will issue a statement explaining what the new threat means including where the threat is coming from, potential targets and how an attack may be carried out.
Mr Abbott announced the changes while releasing Australia's counter-terrorism strategy, which was also approved by COAG.
It focuses on five main areas, including challenging violent extremist ideologies and stopping people from becoming terrorists.
Governments have committed to countering extremist ideology and promoting "values that underpin our society", while working with family and friends of people at risk of radicalisation.
Other focus areas are collaborating with international partners, early disruption of planned terrorist attacks and effective response to an attack.
The governments agree Australians face the "most significant" threat from terrorism in the nation's history.
Since the terror alert was raised to high there have been two attacks, another six have been disrupted and 23 people have been charged as a result of counter-terrorism operations.
The government estimates at least 120 Australians are fighting in Syria and Iraq and another 160 actively support terrorist groups, such as Islamic State, through financing and recruiting.
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