GOVERNMENT MUST RECONSIDER ASIO BUILDING The Federal Government must take note of the real concerns of the ACT Community before pushing ahead with its controversial ASIO Building. A review by senior members of the national security apparatus 1 of ASIO’s six- point threat list could be the driving force behind the construction of a new building for ASIO that has been described by the architect of Parliament House as a “monster” 2 . Reports suggest that ASIO is about to undergo some rapid change. Indeed, ASIO’s own website says: The building design is to be developed from the inside out - that is, the functional requirements of ASIO will drive the design rather than designing the building then fitting the functions within it. 3 It is abundantly clear that plans for the building are being directed by the needs of ASIO, and an expanded role for ASIO is leading – in my opinion – to an oversized eyesore on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. Nonetheless, this proposed review provides the Government with a very good reason to go back to the drawing board. It should take into consideration the impact on the National Capital and its residents and design a building that takes into account the views and needs of those affected by the construction, as well as facilitating the functions and needs of ASIO itself. I note with alarm that both Kate Lundy and Annette Ellis were quoted 4 as not being too concerned at all by the whole affair – it makes one wonder if they are both refusing to stand up for the people they are meant to represent for fear of offending the Labor party hierarchy. However it seems Labor’s Planning Minister Andrew Barr is the only one that has any concerns about the complex and that’s because of the lack of consultation with the territory – or pollie speak for “I was out of the loop”. So while Kate and Annette are pretending that there’s no problem and Andrew Barr has no idea what’s going on i t seems that a whole group of residents in our local community have been left with a most unfortunate legacy. I regret that the former Howard Government chose such a sensitive site for this major project. In hindsight, it was probably no t the right place for a building with such specific security requirements. However, the immediate decisions on the design and impact of this buil ding are now in the hands of a new, Labor gover nment. Labor need to pull the ir head out of the sand and listen to the concerns of Canberra residents before pushing ahead with changes such as these, which will dramatica lly impact on the Nation’s capital for decades to come. 1 Sydney Morning Herald, Page 1, 20 August 2009 2 Canberra Times, Page 5, 15 August 2009 3 ASIO Website, 24 August 2009, http://www.asio.gov.au/Media/Contents/new_central_office.aspx 4 Canberra Times, Saturday Forum Magazine, 15 August 2009

Government Must Reconsider Asio Building

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GOVERNMENT MUST RECONSIDER ASIO BUILDING

The Federal Government must take note of the real concerns of the ACT

Community before pushing ahead with its controversial ASIO Building.

A review by senior members of the national security apparatus1of ASIO’s six-

point threat list could be the driving force behind the construction of a new

building for ASIO that has been described by the architect of Parliament House

as a “monster” 2.

Reports suggest that ASIO is about to undergo some rapid change. Indeed,ASIO’s own website says:

The building design is to be developed from the inside out - that is, thefunctional requirements of ASIO will drive the design rather than designingthe building then fitting the functions within it.3

It is abundantly clear that plans for the building are being directed by the needsof ASIO, and an expanded role for ASIO is leading – in my opinion – to anoversized eyesore on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.

Nonetheless, this proposed review provides the Government with a very goodreason to go back to the drawing board. It should take into consideration theimpact on the National Capital and its residents and design a building that takesinto account the views and needs of those affected by the construction, as wellas facilitating the functions and needs of ASIO itself.

I note with alarm that both Kate Lundy and Annette Ellis were quoted4 as not

being too concerned at all by the whole affair – it makes one wonder if they are

both refusing to stand up for the people they are meant to represent for fear of

offending the Labor party hierarchy.

However it seems Labor’s Planning Minister Andrew Barr is the only one that has

any concerns about the complex and that’s because of the lack of consultation

with the territory – or pollie speak for “I was out of the loop”.

So while Kate and Annette are pretending that there’s no problem and Andrew

Barr has no idea what’s going on it seems that a whole group of residents in our

local community have been left with a most unfortunate legacy.

I regret that the former Howard Government chose such a sensitive site for this

major project. In hindsight, it was probably not the right place for a building with

such specific security requirements.

However, the immediate decisions on the design and impact of this building are

now in the hands of a new, Labor government. Labor need to pull their head out

of the sand and listen to the concerns of Canberra residents before pushing

ahead with changes such as these, which will dramatically impact on the

Nation’s capital for decades to come.

1 Sydney Morning Herald, Page 1, 20 August 20092 Canberra Times, Page 5, 15 August 20093 ASIO Website, 24 August 2009,http://www.asio.gov.au/Media/Contents/new_central_office.aspx 4 Canberra Times, Saturday Forum Magazine, 15 August 2009

http://www.asio.gov.au/Media/Contents/new_central_office.aspx