House debates Questions without Notice
Aviation Security
Arch Bevis Brisbane, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Aviation and Transport Security
3:19 pm
My question without notice is again to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Is the minister aware that at Dubbo airport passengers are not screened with metal detector wands or walk-through metal detectors before entering the tarmac and boarding their aircraft—unless it is a jet—even when their flight is a direct flight to Australia’s largest airport, Sydney? Is he aware that carry-on baggage is not even examined for weapons or explosives before entering planes which fly into Sydney? Is the minister also aware that about 20 metres from the new security gate—this gate, Minister—there is an old farmyard gate that opens onto the tarmac, which was left open and unattended last week when this photo was taken.
Arch Bevis Brisbane, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Aviation and Transport Security
I ask you again, Minister: why hasn’t the government fixed these problems one year after Sir John Wheeler specifically raised them with you, and five years after the September 11 terrorist attacks?
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Minister for Transport and Regional Services
The honourable member for Brisbane has once again misquoted from the Wheeler report. Since he has given me this opportunity, and I have found the relevant quote, let me read to the House paragraph 47 of the Sir John Wheeler report on regional aviation.
Michael Danby Melbourne Ports, Australian Labor Party
Mr Danby interjecting
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Melbourne Ports will excuse himself under standing order 94(a)
The member for Melbourne Ports then left the chamber.
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Minister for Transport and Regional Services
The report 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.
Stephen Smith Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations
Where does it say to leave the gate open?
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Minister for Transport and Regional Services
It continues:
Arch Bevis Brisbane, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Aviation and Transport Security
What did he say about—
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Minister for Transport and Regional Services
Indeed, I perhaps could add, from my own words, opposition-driven scaremongering. The Labor Party has proposed as an alternative to the risk managed systems that we have put in place—
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Childcare
Ms Plibersek interjecting
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Sydney will remove herself from the chamber, under standing order 94(a).
The member for Sydney then left the chamber.
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Minister for Transport and Regional Services
The opposition has proposed, as an alternative to the carefully costed and properly risk managed proposals implemented by this government to upgrade security around Australia, that every airport in Australia should be equipped with security measures similar to those at our capital city airports.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. He got a specific question about why that gate was open at the airport—
Wilson Tuckey O'Connor, Liberal Party
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order that relates to photography by the media in this place. Could I draw your attention to the fact that, prior to these questions, the press photographers moved from their usual position over there, in conspiracy with the opposition, to take those photographs.
David Hawker Speaker
I thank the member for O’Connor for his question and remind him that questions to the speaker should be put at the end of question time.
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Minister for Transport and Regional Services
The opposition have proposed that there should be passenger security measures similar to those we have in our capital cities to check every passenger and all baggage in every airport in Australia. The opposition have repeated that statement frequently. As I said to the House a couple of days ago, it has been estimated that the average cost of providing this kind of security at every airport in Australia would be $5 million per airport.
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Swan will remove himself under standing order 94(a).
The member for Swan then left the chamber.
Joel Fitzgibbon Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Revenue
Mr Fitzgibbon interjecting
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Minister for Transport and Regional Services
At some of these 170 airports, there could be as few as 10 or a dozen passengers a week, but Labor is proposing that these airports be required to install $5 million worth of security equipment. All of that cost would be passed back to the passengers by way of a loading on their tickets. That is what the Labor Party are proposing.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order.
David Hawker Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition does not need a photograph to help him with his point of order.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Mr Speaker, the question was about an open gate. It would cost about five dollars to put a padlock on it and make it—
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Minister for Transport and Regional Services
Their proposal is to spend $5 million on security equipment for individual passenger checking facilities and baggage X-ray facilities at each of these airports. This would add thousands—indeed, tens of thousands of dollars—to the cost of tickets for flights out of airports in many parts of regional Australia. That would be a recipe for closing down airports. We do not believe that is a reasonable response. That is not in conformity with what Sir John Wheeler recommended. He recommended that security be provided appropriate to the risks in each instance. In the case of an airport like Dubbo, which does not have jet services and therefore individual passengers are not screened unless there is a particular risk assessment that suggests it needs to be done—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Albanese interjecting
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Minister for Transport and Regional Services
In that instance, when the passengers arrive in Sydney, they are now met by a bus.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Albanese interjecting
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Minister for Transport and Regional Services
They are bussed under supervision to the terminal building, where they go through security if they are entering or going on to a sector which will involve jet travel. Sir John Wheeler’s recommendations have been responded to effectively and completely by this government, and that has delivered a much higher level of security for the passengers of Australia than ever existed when Labor was in office.