Parliamentary Speeches
Regional Airport Security ( 05/09/2006)
Mr DONALD PAGE (Ballina—Deputy Leader of The Nationals) [5.02 p.m.]: Security at airports in New South Wales, whether they be metropolitan or regional, is of great importance. Undoubtedly, since the events of September 11 2001 the importance placed on passenger screening and security checks has increased markedly. It must be noted that airport security at regional airports is primarily the responsibility of the Federal Government and local councils, which for the most part own and operate regional airports. The Federal Government invited aviation expert Sir John Wheeler to undertake a review of aviation security in Australia last year. The subsequent Wheeler report made 17 recommendations, including recommendations for regional airports. Following the report's release, the Federal Government implemented all 17 of those recommendations. Importantly, it must be noted that the Wheeler report did not recommend the introduction of baggage screening at regional airports. Sir John Wheeler said:
It is neither practical nor desirable to expect 100 per cent security at regional airports. The sheer diversity of Australia's regional airports makes the challenge of common standards of security an impossibility. Any protective security enhancements should be undertaken in accordance with local threat and risk assessment and not instituted on the basis of what is sometimes media-driven scaremongering.
Since September 11 2001 the Federal Government has spent more than $1.2 billion on new transport security measures, including security programs and procedures for 176 regional airports around Australia. To follow the Labor line that every single bag on every single flight at every single airport should be screened would mean that hundreds of airports around Australia needed to install equipment costing an average of $4.5 million per airport, before considering the annual running costs. This cost would need to be met by local councils, which generally own and run these airports, and the travelling public. Given the lack of traffic at many of these airports, the extra cost per ticket would run into thousands of dollars in many instances. Therefore, the level of security at an airport is determined through a risk assessment process; security measures are tailored to suit the individual airport and the relevant circumstances that prevail.
It is obvious that regional airports do not experience the same level of passenger and airline usage as larger metropolitan airports. Therefore, security measures in place at regional airports will not be the same as those in place at larger airports with greater usage. But security is not just related to volumes of traffic; it is related to risk. The fact is that the risk is lower at regional airports, which is precisely what Sir John Wheeler said in his report. The Federal Government takes a realistic and multilayered approach to aviation security across Australia. The security structure is intelligence driven, risk based and outcomes focused. Every regional airport servicing public transport aircraft has a Transport Security Program that is based on a thorough risk assessment and covers all security procedures at the airport.
The security arrangements that are mandated at Australia's regional airports are based on the level of airline service and best advice from intelligence and enforcement agencies. This means that all appropriate layers of security are being put in place based on size and scale of the airport, the type of aircraft that service the region and the risk assessment. Should it become necessary—this is important—to install further security measures following advice from the concerned agencies, it will be done in consultation with the airport operator, which is usually the council, and the airlines. I am advised by the Federal Government that when an airport operator believes that the introduction of additional security measures is required, they can submit a request to the Federal Government to apply for added security. All regional airports, therefore, have the option of introducing screening, in consultation with the airlines and the Federal Government.
It is important to be aware that Australia's aviation security regime consists of numerous layers of operational security measures, many of which are not immediately visible to the travelling public. Whilst passenger screening is the most obvious security measure, there are many others in place. Security measures at regional airports include strengthened access control, improved lighting, fencing and surveillance, hardened cockpit doors on all regional aircraft with more than 30 seats, security awareness training initiatives, and the regional rapid deployment team, which conducts regular deployments to regional airports. All baggage on regional commercial flights must also be fully reconciled against passenger manifests.
Of course, security measures at regional airports would be increased if the national security level was to increase or intelligence about a specific threat was received. The Federal Government has invested heavily in security at airports in regional Australia, with the regional aviation industry receiving direct assistance of approximately $87.5 million to comply with aviation security requirements. As part of this, the Federal Government has committed $36.5 million through the Regional Airport Funding Program to assist a number of regional airports to implement a range of basic security measures, including fencing, lighting and alarm systems. In conclusion, security at regional airports is important. However, it needs to be undertaken in accordance with a threat and risk assessment, as Sir John Wheeler said in his report. If the Federal Government or a regional airport perceives an increased level of risk, there is provision for extra security to be put in place to meet that increased risk.
The Minister for Water Utilities, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Regional Development, and Minister for the Illawarra, who has been critical of the Federal Government, has done nothing in terms of improving security. If he is serious about security he should consider improving security on trains that come into the city from regional areas. Instead of bagging the Federal Government, the Minister should think about measures the Government could take to reduce the level of risk of terrorist attack in a city which might emanate from a regional source. The point is clear. Sir John Wheeler, who is regarded as a world expert on aviation security, gave the Federal Government a comprehensive report containing 17 recommendations. All of those recommendations have been implemented by the Federal Government. In relation to regional airport security, it is worth repeating what Sir John Wheeler said:
It is neither practical nor desirable to expect 100 per cent security at regional airports. The sheer diversity of Australia's regional airports makes the challenge of common standards of security an impossibility. Any protective security enhancements should be undertaken in accordance with local threat and risk assessment and not instituted on the basis of what is sometimes media-driven scaremongering.
It is a question of assessing the risk and the threat. The assessment of the risk and threat to date from regional airports in New South Wales and around Australia is that it is not sufficiently high as to require every piece of baggage at every single airport to be screened on every single flight. Considering the cost involved and the risk assessment, the Federal Government and many local governments that own and operate these airports perceive that the risk does not justify the type of security measures to which the Minister has referred. However, if there are increased risks and increased threats, and the assessment is made along those lines, provision is available for the Federal Government to support regional airports to ensure they have better security than they do at the moment.
Let us hope and pray that we do not have a problem with security at regional airports. Most of us who come to this place from regional electorates fly out of regional airports. I think it has occurred to all of us at different times how easy it would be for someone of malintent to get on an aircraft and take it over. Having said that, it has not happened—but that is not to say that it cannot happen. If there is any real chance of that happening the Federal Government, through the appropriate authorities, would increase the risk assessment and take measures at those airports, particularly the larger regional airports, to ensure that the appropriate security measures were put in place.
