Airports face overhaul
By Peter Clack
Canberra Times
SECURITY measures at all major airports are to be further upgraded and placed under the direct control of the Australian Protective Service in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The protective service would brief union and aviation industry representatives on Tuesday about new measures designed to boost the much-criticised security preparedness at airports, sources revealed yesterday.
The service already provides 22 armed air marshals on domestic flights to ease security fears, and the number of marshals is expected to grow to 111 by the end of the year.
Until now, airport security has been provided by airport owners. Screening and plane security are provided by the airlines themselves, although not at 161 regional airports, including many with direct flights into Canberra.
The Canberra International Airport is one of many that are considered serious security risks. The Australian Federal Police provides two officers for Canberra airport security, but the officers have no patrol vehicle.
Sources said the Federal Government was expected this week to announce moves to strengthen airport security and put it under the control and coordination of the APS. The move came as dissatisfaction with security led to industrial unrest.
A survey by the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union found most airport screeners at Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra airports had not completed the dangerous-goods course, mainly because of cost constraints. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority moved this weekend to assess how many of the additional screening guards hired after September 11 had not completed the half-day course, and scheduled their training sessions over the next three weeks.
A spokeswoman for federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison said no comment could be made.
A Qantas spokeswoman said the company remained responsible for security screening in line with government standards, and had not been approached over any changes.
The principal industrial officer for the AFP Association, Craig Shannon, said it was no longer feasible for private firms to be involved airport security.
Public concerns after September 11 meant air travellers needed the professionalism provided by core government agencies such as the APS or the AFP.
Placing the APS and AFP in charge of airport security was completely in line with the views of the AFP Association. It was "a long-held view. You can't afford the cheapest rates for national security", he said.
Australian Airports Association chairman Peter Byrne has called for the Government to upgrade security at regional airports. The association represents 253 airports and most of them operated without security.
Screening was mandatory for planes with 100 passengers or more before September 11.
The Federal Government lowered the limit to 40 passengers and 29 airports were put on the list, including Canberra.