FEDERAL Attorney-General Robert McClelland says police and emergency services may be used to clear people off the beaches during future tsunami warnings, after last weekend’s warning was largely ignored by the public.

Mr McClelland has ordered a review of the public response to tsunami warnings after lifesavers struggled to clear beaches on the New South Wales and Queensland coast following the earthquake that struck Chile on February 27.

Today, Mr McClelland introduced a tsunami information program in conjunction with Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) to educate the public of the very real dangers of tsunamis.

It was "disappointing but understandable" that so many people travelled to beaches to view the waves last Sunday, Mr McClelland said.

"People saw the earthquake of course literally thousands of kilometres away and didn’t appreciate the dangers," he said.

» dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking