Google Earth image of secret data centre in Harman Credit: Google Earth/Forbes

PRISM is not only in the US but Australia as well. A new secret communications facility courtesy of the Defence Department is designed to manage the deluge of intelligence data the United States shares with Australia.

The secret facility is being built in the quiet suburb of Harman, Canberra. It is close to the border of NSW near Queanbeyan. The Royal Australian Navy calls the facility in its communications complex, the HMAS Harman.

One of the main tenants of the new communications facility will be the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD). Several contracts have been signed including the building construction contract under John Holland. Initial government documents show the data centre will be completed in March 2013 with a total cost of $135million.

The DSD is the Australian counterpart of the National Security Agency (NSA) in the US. NSA is recently under global scrutiny for the damaging revelations of whistleblower Ed Snowden. The former NSA technical employee disclosed the extent of NSA's data gathering techniques on US citizens under the PRISM program. NSA has been using an electronic surveillance program for spying. The agency argues it is to protect the US from terrorist threats and deter crime before it is committed.

According to Fairfax Media's sources, intelligence agencies in Australia have been receiving a high volume of valuable data from NSA and other information using the PRISM program.

Reports say the new data centre in Australia has gone beyond its budget of 80 per cent. Little is known about the existence HMAS Harman but looking deep in to Defence statutory reports and government tenders show a reference to the facility's construction.

Pending investigation

Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam will be pushing for an investigation. Ludlam said the revelations from intelligence agencies in the country only confirm that the Australian government is cooperating with the US in spying on Australians.

The Australian government has denied reports of having knowledge on NSA intelligence reports. Ludlam says the government is well aware of the surveillance program. Ludlam is set to push the government to disclose information regarding its involvement in PRISM.