"Australia refuses mandatory screening at regional airports"

Monday, August 23, 2004

Australia refuses mandatory screening at regional airports


CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Australia's government on Monday refused to
introduce mandatory passenger and baggage screening at regional airports,
saying it would be too costly. 

Counterterrorism security will be upgraded in a 48 million Australian dollar
(US$34.6 million; euro 28 million) plan for the nation's 146 regional
airports, said Transport Minister John Anderson. 

The program includes equipping all the airports with hand-held metal
detectors and some with closed circuit TV, Anderson said. 

But passenger and baggage screening would only be used if there's a specific
threat, or up to 12 hours after the country's official terrorist threat
level is raised, he said. 

The policy acknowledged the financial hardship facing many regional airlines
and airports in the Outback, he added. 

The government started implementing the plan Monday. 

The absence of mandatory screening - used at the country's major domestic
and international airports - won't make the regional airports a weak link in
aviation security unless "you had warnings ... any indication that
terrorists were intent upon using regional airlines as vehicles for their
evil objectives,'' Anderson said. 

The plan also involves basing armed counterterrorism teams, to be deployed
quickly to any regional airport emergency, in state capitals Sydney,
Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. 

The opposition Labor Party condemned the lack of passenger screening at
larger regional airports. 

"There is a gaping hole in regional aviation in the fight against
terrorism,'' said Martin Ferguson, Labor lawmaker responsible for transport
policy. 

"It's all very well to have SWAT teams in capital cities to respond after
the incident, but let's try to avoid the incident at first instance.''


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