"Australia Requires Background Checks For Airport Staff"

Thursday, March 27, 2003

Australia Requires Background Checks For Airport Staff


CANBERRA (AP)--Airport workers will have to submit to background checks by
Australia's main intelligence agency to hold onto their jobs under proposed
new counterterrorism laws, the government said Thursday.

Transport Minister John Anderson said under the proposed laws, about 60,000
people working at the nation's airports will be subject to a "politically
motivated violence background check."

Anderson said the legislation would also increase X-ray screening of baggage
and cargo, and expand the powers of airport security guards to detain
people.

Anderson assured workers that they wouldn't be denied clearance cards for
simply attending political protests that might have turned violent.

"People who in the opinion of ASIO (Australian Security and Intelligence
Organization) may hold views or have connections with groups and
philosophies that threaten safety, well, they'll be denied that card," he
said.

The government hasn't yet released the actual draft legislation or provided
specific details of how the security assessments would be made.

The opposition Labor Party said stricter airport security laws were long
overdue and that it would likely support the legislation, but wanted to look
at its details.

The bill is expected to be introduced to Parliament in May.

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