as posted here
PHILLIP HUDSON
October 1, 2009
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd is building a $14 million White House-style ''situation room'' next to the cabinet room in the heart of Parliament House.
The high-tech crisis centre has been approved by ASIO and will have secure videoconferencing facilities to allow direct communication across the nation and with diplomatic posts and foreign leaders.
The Howard government considered building such a room and the Rudd Government was urged to do so in a security review last year by senior public servant Ric Smith. It is expected to be operational by the middle of next year.
The room will be used for fighting terrorist and national security threats, and also to respond to natural disasters and other crises, which could include events such as the global financial crisis.
The room may also be used for Mr Rudd to make secure video calls to world leaders such as US President Barack Obama.
It is understood Mr Rudd stepped up plans to build the room after feeling that more ''real-time information'' was needed during the Victorian bushfires.
At present, the cabinet room is used, but a report found it had ''limited capacity for ministers to communicate in real time with other decision makers'' and lacked technological support.
The Government had considered building the crisis centre in a bunker cut deep into the rock under Parliament House, but decided to place it next to the cabinet room so ministers could simply walk through a secure door.
It will be just metres from the Prime Minister's office.
The Government would not discuss who would be granted access, and whether handprints or security passes would be required.
ASIO has advised the Government that the room will not increase the threat profile of Parliament House.
In America, the White House Situation Room was established by president John Kennedy after the Bay of Pigs crisis in 1961. It is in the basement of the White House, and five watch teams constantly monitor international events. The soundproof conference room is packed with computers and communications equipment.
as posted here
All very Doctor Strangelovian. A "situation room" will be related to the "Watch Office" (crisis information monitoring centre) structures that have been operated by ASIO, ONA and Defence over the years.
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