The opening of the building was required for security reasons before special equipment was moved in. However, sources said the former Rudd government had been warned the building was not ready to be opened and said it had been a “media stunt to grab the naming rights of the building”.
The Australian can also reveal another $7m blowout in the cost of the building, taking the total overrun to $177m.
Mr Rudd opened the spy agency headquarters during his brief return as prime minister, announcing that up to 1800 staff would begin moving into the building by September last year. But the former government had been told the project, which has been beset by delays and controversy, was still not ready.
There have been fears that Chinese hackers have a copy of the floor plans. The building — the largest office building in the ACT — also has been criticised as a blight on the foreshore. It remains behind barricades and barbed-wire fences, with a government source saying the ACT government is refusing to certify the five-star project because it has failed to meet building standards. There have been problems with windows falling off, fireproofing not meeting standards and airconditioning and hot water systems requiring serious rectifying.
The most recent deadline for the builder to hand over the building to the Department of Finance was May 23. A new date of September has been set but sources expect that it will be closer to Christmas.
