Billion-Dollar National Security Precinct Near Parliament House to Open in 2029

Six massive cranes are currently erecting the biggest Commonwealth construction effort in Canberra in four decades: a National Security Office Precinct on a former car-park site in Barton. The complex will serve a range of agencies, including the Office of National Intelligence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and will accommodate up to 5,000 staff alongside public-facing hospitality and retail venues. Finance Minister and ACT Senator Katy Gallagher has emphasized the need for a purpose-built, secure environment as existing buildings reach capacity.

The Department of Finance, led by Nick McClintock, is managing the project, which carries a price tag of at least $1 billion and is exempt from the usual public works committee review for security reasons. Construction, which started in late 2024, is projected to finish by the end of 2028, with occupation beginning in 2029, and is expected to support over 10,000 jobs during the build phase.