"Australian airport security plan 'inadequate'"

Monday, August 23, 2004

Airport security plan 'inadequate'
The Australian Associated Press


THE Federal Government's regional aviation security package was inadequate
and permanent screening devices for passengers and their luggage were needed
to ensure security on regional flights, Opposition Leader Mark Latham said
today.

The Government has announced a $48-million plan to boost security at
regional airports, which includes issuing hand-held metal detectors for
whenever security threat levels are increased.

The Government also will establish four eight-member Australian Federal
Police (AFP) Protective Service teams which will respond to security threats
at regional airports and conduct security training.

"I think (the Government's) announcement is inadequate," Mr Latham said
today.

"The main thing they should be doing is putting the permanent screening
devices into significant regional airports so ... people are going to have
the best assurance possible that their flight is secure. 

"Even after (the Government's initiative) you will still be able to fly into
airports in Burnie and Devonport in Tasmania, airports with 70,000 passenger
movements a year, and there is no permanent screening devices for passengers
or their luggage.

"We've got to get those devices in place to give the commuting public piece
of mind, to give the maximum guarantee with regard to security."

Labor has yet to announce its policy on regional airport security but Mr
Latham said the priority would be installing permanent screening devices. 

Earlier, Transport Minister John Anderson announced the Federal Government
package and said the screening equipment would be for use only in heightened
security situations.

He said the Government would create four eight-member Australian Federal
Police Protective Service teams to test security, conduct training and
respond to any increase in threat levels at regional airports.

Under the package, regional airport and airline staff would also get
security training, cockpit doors on charter planes would be strengthened and
$1 million would be spent on increasing public awareness of regional
aviation security issues.

Mr Anderson said although hand-held security screening wands would be issued
to 146 regional airports, they would only be used when heightened security
alerts were in place.

"They will have equipment on site, they'll be trained how to use it, it will
be there in the event of a heightened security alert situation for them to
use."


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