as was posted here ... Julia Gillard Prime Minister move to Lodge
The decision by Prime Minister Julia Gillard not to live in The Lodge may well be quickly reversed, a security expert says.
Ms Gillard told reporters today she would not move into the traditional home of the nation's leader until and if she was elected prime minister.
Michael Dever has decades of experience in providing security and he pointed to similar recent decisions having been quietly overturned by the federal police and ASIO.
"She was trying to defer to Kevin Rudd's feelings," Mr Dever said today.
But Ms Gillard's desire to keep living in her Canberra apartment would be difficult to fulfil.
Issues including lines of sight, secure communications and the potential impact of neighbours all had to be considered.
All of this will be handled by the Protective Security Co-ordination Centre inside the Attorney-General's department along with the secretive ASIO group T4.
Mr Dever also raised the issue of retaining security at The Lodge.
"It's a vacant building that will still have to be guarded."
His comments were contradicted by the director of security at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Neil Fergus, who now runs private security firm 538.
"The risk is to the office and the dignity of the Prime Minister's office," Mr Fergus said.
"Maintenance" would need to be done to the properties, he said.
But those changes could be met by the federal police and T4 relatively quickly.
AAP
