New ICT facility to research safeguards

National ICT Australia (NICTA) -- an ICT laboratory -- has opened a new facility in Brisbane to develop projects for disaster prevention and security.  

The facility will initially focus on disaster prevention, response, and recovery. It will also look at cybercrime within Australia as well as other security threats such as terrorism, crime, invasive disease and pests.
 
The University of Queensland, Griffith University, and the Queensland University of Technology have each signed contribution agreements with NICTA. Each university will contribute $2 million to the facility over the next four years.

The Queensland Government will also contribute $4 million over the next four years with NICTA itself expected to invest a similar amount out of its Australian government funding.

By the end of 2005 the Brisbane laboratory is expected to house 20 researchers and 25 students working on four research projects.