Police unions meeting in Adelaide have demanded a $100 million investment in IT systems to crack down on terrorism.

The unions' chiefs told the national police conference there was no consistent approach to terrorism policing and the Federal Government needed to arm authorities with more than just tough legislation.

Police Federation of Australia CEO Mark Burgess said it was crucial that a new case management system be rolled out nationally.

He said a new criminal intelligence system was also necessary to allow the nation's eight police forces to better share information on terrorist threats and offenders.

"Every Australian police force holds a significant amount of data about various incidents and events that occur in that jurisdiction," Mr Burgess said.

"However, the systems operate in isolation of one another, limiting the opportunity to take a national view of incidents or events.

"What we're talking about today is that a person that's on bail in Victoria or a person who has committed a serious offences in Victoria that information is readily and instantaneously available to police in other jurisdictions."

The federation has also called for a broadband internet spectrum so officers can transfer intelligence at high-speed and security upgrades to police stations across the country.

They estimate the IT upgrades would cost $110 million and should be funded by the Federal Government and through the proceeds of crime.

PM must show leadership: unions

The federation's demands follow the terrorism-related shooting death of police accountant Curtis Cheng at the Parramatta Police station in New South Wales a fortnight ago.

South Australian Police Association president Mark Carroll said he could not say whether the new systems could have prevented the attack.

"No-one's to know. What we do know is that if we have the tools, the technology to do our job, we can minimise risk, and that's what this is all about," Mr Carroll said.

He said numerous parliamentary inquiries had recommended the IT upgrades and it was time for the Federal Government to act.

"Enough is enough," he said.

"We need the Prime Minister to show leadership on this issue to bring home to state and territories the absolute need the funding to be made available to implement these outcomes.

"We cannot expect our members to face the scourge of terrorism with anything short of the best practices and highest quality support and that must come from federal funding."