Brett Raguse (Forde, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak in support of the Aviation Transport Security Amendment (2009 Measures No. 1) Bill 2009. I agree with the member for Pearce, who has just spoken, that the issues are much larger than just the security of aviation. It is also about the impacts on infrastructure. I will talk about that later in the debate. The economic considerations are very important.

The bill contains four sets of amendments to provide additional flexibility in managing security at Australian airports. These are amendments to enable the secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government to designate security controlled airports as a particular category of airport according to their risk profiles. They will also enable regulations to be made to prescribe different legislative requirements for each category of an SCA in order to reflect the relative risk profile associated with each category of airport. This will allow security controlled airports to have different levels of security based on category. This advancement will mean that security arrangements can be better tailored to size, location and type of aircraft at an airport.

The second set of amendments will allow unannounced inspections of businesses involved in air cargo. Currently, inspections outside of the boundaries of a security controlled airport can only occur with reasonable notice, which reduces the effectiveness of inspection activity. It is anticipated that this will better utilise inspection resources and provide additional confidence in the inspection process.

The third set of amendments allow the secretary of the department to enter into enforceable undertakings with aviation industry participants in relation to any matter dealt with under the act. Enforceable undertakings are currently concentrated at the more serious end in terms of potential consequences. These changes are to put in place middle-range sanctions to address regulatory issues and contraventions of the Aviation Transport Security Act. Flexibility is central to the operation of these amendments. An aviation industry participant would be able to withdraw or vary an undertaking with written consent of the secretary, and the secretary would be able to cancel an undertaking with written notice.

The final set of amendments expand the scope of compliance control directions to cover operators of security controlled airports, screening authorities and screening officers. Currently, aviation security inspectors cannot issue compliance control directions to airport operators or screening authorities, despite their role in airport security. It is proposed that an aviation security inspector will be able to direct operators of security controlled airports, screening authorities and screening officers to take specified actions in relation to the airport or screening points at the airport.

On the Queensland Gold Coast—and, as the member for Forde, I represent part of the Gold Coast hinterland—confidence in Australia’s aviation security is essential for our economic wellbeing and sustainability. In August this year I had the pleasure of touring the Gold Coast Airport at Bilinga, near Coolangatta. The Gold Coast Airport services residents and supports tourism in the Gold Coast and Tweed Coast areas. It is very important to have our Minister for Tourism in the chamber today. He understands very well the Gold Coast and its developing needs for infrastructure, as well as the connection with aviation security and the importance of people feeling safe when they travel to our region. My tour of the airport was escorted by Paul Donovan, who is the chief operating officer at the Gold Coast Airport. The Gold Coast Airport is owned by Queensland Airports Ltd, who also own the smaller Townsville and Mount Isa airports, located in the electorates of Herbert and Kennedy respectively.

The Gold Coast has not been immune from the challenges of the global economic difficulties. Unemployment on the Gold Coast moved from 3.7 per cent in July 2008 to 6.4 per cent in July 2009. Overall numbers of visitors, particularly domestic visitors, have slowed. However, despite the global economic challenges, the Gold Coast Airport achieved its second highest throughput month in July this year, with nearly 415,000 passengers. In the previous financial year, over 4,600,000 passengers passed through that particular airport. Importantly for international tourism, this number actually conceals a large increase in international traffic. There are nearly 57,000 international passengers a month. In the 2008-09 financial year there was a 97 per cent increase in international passengers—almost 510,000 people. Airport security and aviation security is essential in a continually growing region like the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast Airport terminal is currently midway through a $100 million development planned for completion by March 2010. Two of the four stages are now complete, with the final terminal to be double the current size at 28,000 square metres. Upgrades so far include 32 common-use check-in areas, a new $2 million modern baggage system, new departure lounges, new shops and a new common-user security area. The airport facilities have a massive 20,000-square-metre roof catchment area. To take advantage of this catchment, a one-megalitre water-harvesting facility has been installed. This will provide water for toilets and other essential services, which are responsible for up to 60 per cent of the terminal’s water consumption. Stages 3 and 4 of the upgrades promise new baggage carousels, a new facility for transit passengers, a customer control area and an international arrivals hall.

In the long term, one of the most exciting plans is to connect the Gold Coast Airport to the Brisbane domestic rail network, at an estimated cost of almost $700 million. It is planned for between 2019-20 and 2025-26. This project will open up the Gold Coast Airport in much the same way that the Airtrain opened up the Brisbane airport in 2001. As I said at the start of this speech, the economic sustainability and the importance of airport security for the large numbers of people who will move through these regions is ever important.

Just this year, the Rudd government committed $365 million in funding to a light rail system for the coastal areas of the Gold Coast. Having also received $464 million from the Queensland government, the Gold Coast Rapid Transit Project is now in full swing. The construction of the corridor from the Griffith University to Broadbeach is planned to start in 2011, with the system operational from late 2013. In the long term, the Gold Coast rail is planned to also connect with Coolangatta. This will provide another valuable link for the airport to the central tourist areas of the Gold Coast, including Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise.

These investments will complement many other substantial investments made in recent years on the Gold Coast. In early 2008 the Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, opened the $160 million Skilled Park stadium at Robina. This modern facility is brilliantly located within walking distance from bus and train public transport facilities. Many residents of Forde have enjoyed a good Rugby League game at Skilled Park since it opened. The connections with the airport and that infrastructure are vital and are also supported by the aviation security.

In the works now is a major upgrade of the AFL stadium at Carrara. The Queensland government has put forward $60 million, Gold Coast City Council $20 million, the AFL $10 million and the federal government $36 million. These are big dollars and mean jobs and tourism for the Gold Coast. Around 350 jobs will be created in this process, and this is before the Gold Coast AFL team joins the league in 2011, which will also increase the numbers of sporting visitors and tourists to the area. The strong dedication to infrastructure of the Queensland government, the federal government and private interests is to be applauded. With transport and facilities advancing rapidly, the Gold Coast is securing a vibrant future. This is all on the back of ensuring aviation security for economic sustainability.

Just recently the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has been inquiring into the impact of the global financial crisis on regional Australia. As part of that inquiry the committee members and I toured the Gold Coast and parts of my electorate of Forde, which includes the Gold Coast hinterland, as well as taking evidence in Beenleigh on the following day. I must thank the Gold Coast councillors and the mayor, Ron Clarke, for their gracious welcome and hospitality. On a sad note I should say that Ron Clarke lost his daughter only last Saturday to the sudden onset of cancer. I would like to express my best wishes and those of the federal members of that region, and I am sure all members of this House, to Ron, his wife, Helen, and their family. Ron Clarke, who has been a strong advocate for infrastructure and tourism for the Gold Coast, understands that tourism brings employment and wealth to the Gold Coast and surrounding areas.

Strong and effective airport security systems are essential to supporting this industry and providing certainty for domestic passengers. The changes proposed in the Aviation Transport Security Amendment (2009 Measures No. 1) Bill 2009 are about flexibility. The range of amendments proposed provides flexibility in addressing security issues in airports. The amendments will better cater for different airport types, provide more effective inspections and allow better enforcement activities to be undertaken. While the security and safety of travelling passengers through the airports is important, aviation security is also about economic sustainability because our tourism industry depends so heavily on having safe transit and transport. One thing that I know from travelling overseas is that people overseas do see Australia as a safe destination, and these security measures for our aviation sector are so very important. Given this consideration and given the amendments, I would like to commend these amendments to the House.

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