"Firecracker incident sparks Australian airport security questions"

Saturday, September 25, 2004

Firecracker incident sparks airport security questions
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation


The Federal Transport Minister has criticised a teenage boy and his parents
for bringing a home-made firecracker on-board a plane earlier this week.

No-one will face charges over the incident, which has sparked questions
about airport security.

Federal police say they will not be taking action over the device, found in
the hold of a Virgin plane in Sydney, convinced the firecracker simply fell
out of the teenager's luggage and that there was no malicious intent. 

But Transport Minister John Anderson is not impressed. 

"I am concerned that in this day and age a teenager didn't know that this
was a very silly thing to do and their parents were not careful enough to
make sure it didn't happen," he said.

Labor's Martin Ferguson says security lessons must be learned. 

"Obviously the incoming government has got to pay more attention to the
issue of security passes at airports, and whether or not adequate training
has been given to all ground staff," he said.

Mr Anderson says staff training will be stepped up and other changes put in
place.

No apology

Mr Anderson had denied accusing airport workers of planting a suspect device
on the plane earlier this week, and refused to issue an apology. 

Before the item was found to be a home-made firecracker, Mr Anderson said he
could not rule out the possibility the incident was a union stunt to raise
awareness of transport issues.

But now Mr Anderson denies he made that link. 

"I didn't say it was the unions, they didn't rule out the possibility either
that it might have been an inside job," he said.

Mr Ferguson says the minister has egg on his face. 

"John Anderson has sought to cast a slur on the integrity of aviation
workers and the unions that represent them but he's proved to be the small
man as a result of that incident," he said.


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