Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—On Saturday, 13 March, I attended the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Aviation Security in Tokyo, Japan. This meeting was chaired by the Hon. Seiji Maehara, Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The meeting was attended by delegates of 18 countries from the Asia-Pacific region, including Janet Napolitano, Secretary, United States Department of Homeland Security, and Raymond Benjamin, the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Those nations represented were Cambodia, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the United States of America, New Zealand, the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong China, Laos and, of course, Australia.

Australian and Asia-Pacific representatives reaffirmed our commitment to ongoing improvements in protecting the aviation industry from the actions of terrorists and to share knowledge and experiences of what each country is doing in this important area of government action. This provided me with the opportunity to highlight the strong position of the Australian government and the directions in aviation security which we announced in December last year when the Australian government released the aviation white paper—Flight path to the future. The National Aviation Policy Statement was the first time that industry and the community have been provided with a clear picture of the future of the aviation industry. The white paper contains over 130 policy initiatives and takes a strategic, planned approach in preparing for future economic and environmental challenges while maintaining the highest safety and security standards and addressing community needs.

As an island continent with major distances separating us from our own population centres, our tourism markets and our trading partners, we perhaps rely on aviation more than just about any other nation on earth. Vast distances separate Australians from each other and from the rest of the world—access to air services is critical in bridging that divide. Our aviation statistics highlight this importance. In the last year our aviation sector provided 24.4 million international passenger movements to and from Australia. Domestically another 48.8 million passenger movements occurred within our borders. The aviation industry is a major sector of our national economy. It employs 50,000 Australians directly and supports another 500,000 people indirectly through its activities. The industry alone contributes nearly $6.3 billion to the Australian national economy. In this context the safety and security of aviation is a paramount concern of the government and an issue of vital national significance.

The No. 1 priority of the white paper was the development of policy and initiatives to provide for the safety and security of Australians and visitors to Australia who utilise our aviation networks—networks that stretch beyond our borders. Aviation has played a significant part in the globalised nature of the modern world. Aviation security is an international issue, and international cooperation is fundamental to safer air travel. Australia already boasts a world-class security regime. We have developed a comprehensive approach through the white paper and implemented immediate measures in February to respond to emerging terrorist threats.

The Australian government also knows that we are not in this alone. Access to one airport can mean access to the entire global aviation system. It was with this context in mind that the ministerial conference provided an excellent opportunity to share experiences with my colleagues from around the region so that as nations we could further develop a shared vision of the future of aviation security in the region and internationally. The conference noted:

… that the attack on 25 December 2009 has, once again, reminded us that civil aviation remains a key target for terrorism and that international cooperation is essential to counter such transnational threats. As a geographically and culturally diverse region, the Asia-Pacific depends on the international civil aviation network to connect its societies and facilitate its economic growth. For these reasons and recognising the significant number of domestic, regional, trans-Pacific, and international flights that are potentially subject to terrorist attack, it is incumbent on us to work together, and with the aviation industry to enhance aviation security throughout the region.

The Australian government was in a strong position to consider our response to the 25 December attack and to act quickly and build on the aviation white paper to introduce a comprehensive package of measures designed to strengthen our domestic and international aviation security. This is why a major part of the Australian government’s $200 million aviation security package, announced on 9 February, focuses upon international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and internationally. It will also enable us to expand our cooperative inspections and security assessments of last ports of call airports for flights coming to Australia as well as working directly with more of our neighbouring countries to improve the overall security outcomes in the region’s airports and sea ports.

The shadow minister for transport, Mr Truss, would be interested that Indonesia and the Philippines in particular acknowledged the support that the current government and the previous government have given to aviation safety and security in our region. They raised those issues in their presentations to the conference and reiterated their appreciation of the role that Australia has played in lifting standards in our neighbourhood.

As a result of the announcement on 9 February, we will increase the presence of the Office of Transport Security at some overseas posts. We will also be investing in new and improved technologies, increased policing at airports and strengthened security procedures. Body scanners will be introduced progressively at screening points servicing international passengers by early next year.

While respectful of privacy concerns, we believe they can be met by the advancements in technology, without compromising safety standards. We can strike the right balance between safety and privacy. It is clear that these body scanners will be rolled out around the world and around the region. A number of countries at the conference reported that being the case. We will increase the number of firearms and explosive sniffer dogs by 50 per cent at Australia’s major international airports. These highly trained dogs and their handlers provide an effective, highly visible contribution to aviation security.

The Australian government will also be making use of modern biometric technology in order to enhance aviation security. We will be investing in new technology to secure our air cargo supply chain. This investment will be used to assist industry install cargo X-ray screening and explosive trace detection technology at particular locations. As foreshadowed in our aviation white paper, the Australian government will be extending screening at regional airports, but will be bringing forward the implementation of this initiative to 2012. The $32 million that we have allocated to this measure will assist regional airports purchase the necessary capital equipment. These are critical investments and demonstrate the government’s commitment to providing a world-class aviation security regime.

I am pleased to inform the House that the conference unanimously adopted a 10-point action plan.

(1) Encourage governments represented at this conference, pursuant to their domestic laws, regulations and programs on civil aviation security, and in accordance with applicable standards and recommended practices, (SARPS), of ICAO and the capacity of each state/administration, to promote the implementation of aviation security measures in a practical manner to:

• Broaden existing cooperation mechanisms among our countries/administrations and with other parties to the Chicago convention and the civil aviation industry, as appropriate, for information exchange and early detection of security threats to passenger security and the industry’s wellbeing;
• Share expertise, best practices and information in a range of areas related to civil aviation such as screening and inspection techniques, detection of weapons, explosives and hazardous materials, airport security, behavioural detection, screening and credentialing of airport employees, human resource development, and research and development of relevant technologies; and
• Utilise modern technologies to detect prohibited materials and to prevent the carriage of such materials on board aircraft while respecting the privacy and safety of individuals.

(2) Consider necessary changes to relevant security provision of ICAO SARPs, including in annex 17 and the sharing of passenger information, in order to address new and emerging threats to civil aviation.

(3) Examine information exchange mechanisms, including the use of liaison officers and further use of advance passenger information provided by air carriers, to reduce the risk to air travellers and others, while ensuring effective protection for our citizens’ privacy and civil liberties.

(4) Examine enhancing measures for onboard flight protection.

(5) Seek to achieve both a high level of security and the facilitation of passenger travel by various methods, including the use of biometrics.

(6) Strengthen and promote travel document security and reporting on a regular basis and lost and stolen passports to the extent possible, to the Interpol lost and stolen travel document database.

(7) Develop and implement, in accordance with ICAO policies and in coordination with other appropriate international partners, internationally strengthened and harmonised measures and best practices for air cargo security, taking into account the need to protect the entire air cargo supply chain.

(8) Promote capacity building activities in the Asia-Pacific region to enhance aviation security of the region as a whole, recognising the need to develop capacity to also correct deficiencies identified under the universal security audit program of ICAO. To this end, the assistance and development mechanisms should be strengthened.

(9) Continue working together, with other international partners and with the aviation industry toward greater travel security.

(10) Urge the ICAO assembly at its meeting 28 September to 8 October 2010 to adopt a resolution that reflects the principles contained in this declaration and that confirms civil aviation security will be accorded one of the highest priorities during the forthcoming ICAO triennium.

I would like to thank and congratulate the Japanese government for hosting what was a very successful Asia-Pacific regional ministerial conference. This government remains committed to working with our regional neighbours to ensure the continued safety and security of our civil aviation industry.

I ask leave of the House to move a motion to enable the member for Wide Bay to speak for 13 minutes.

Leave granted.

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Truss (Leader of the Nationals) speaking in reply to the ministerial statement for a period not exceeding 13 minutes.

Question agreed to.

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