The federal government has for the first time allowed members of the media into one of its most secretive organisations.
Launching a new cyber warfare centre in Canberra, Defence Minister John Faulkner said the opening of the Cyber Security Operations Centre was a major development in the nation's fight against cyber threats.
The centre is based within the Defence Signals Directorate, an arm of defence that collates foreign signals and other secret information for the government.
Senator Faulkner was keen to avoid discussing details of how the cyber warfare centre operates or even what it does.
"I am not prepared to address the issue of defence's cyber capabilities," he told reporters.
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In front of an audience that included the head of ASIO and the US Ambassador Jeffrey Laurence Bleich, Senator Faulkner said the centre would be a wonderful place to work, provided you weren't a fan of "windows, bricks and sunlight".
"It's challenging but also exciting work. Australia is increasingly dependent on information and communication technology," he said.
Admitting that defence alone had recorded about 200 cyber incidents on its networks per month in 2009, Senator Faulkner recommitted the government to maintaining cyber security as a priority.
"Cyber space is a battlefield itself."
While Senator Faulkner was coy on confirming the ability of the centre to launch cyber attacks, a brochure handed to media at the event confirmed part of the directorate's mission was to "reveal their secrets".
