Security Upgrade For Darwin And Alice Springs Airports

Increased security at Alice Springs and Darwin airports will bring peace of mind to travellers and safer skies for the community.

Clare Martin’s assertions that people travelling to and from Central Australia will pay $20 more for a ticket are outrageous and without foundation. The cost of security upgrades will average about $1 per ticket across the country and I intend to make sure people travelling to and from the Territory are not disadvantaged and the tourism industry does not suffer.

As a member of Government I am speaking directly to the Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson about ensuring there is equity for people travelling to and from Alice Springs and Darwin. They will not be paying more for security than passengers on higher volume East Coast routes.

Previously airport security has had a focus on preventing terrorism. While this is still an important function of security there is now a greater emphasis on crime at our airports and the community is demanding the Government puts measures in place to prevent drug trafficking and theft.

The Australian Government has recognised the importance of Alice Springs and Darwin as major airports. Consequently the airports will be required to increase scrutiny through intensifying the inspection of all persons, vehicles and goods entering and leaving the airside area.

The increased scrutiny will include airline and airport staff, contractors and their possessions. It is essential in the interests of protecting the travelling public.

More extensive background checks on airport workers are not designed to target someone who might have made a relatively minor mistake earlier in their life and has since been an upstanding member of society. We are looking for a pattern of criminality.

Secure parts of airports are no places for habitual criminals and the public rightly expects the Government to ensure such people are not employed in positions of trust in a secure environment.

I am a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Public Accounts and Audit which has just re-opened its Aviation Security Inquiry. I will be using my position on this committee to ensure the interests of Alice Springs airport users and stake holders are protected. It will also be an opportunity for me to look into the many aviation security issues which Territorians have raised with me.

2005-06-10