Fed: Labor says Sydney airport security a joke

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2006
Fed: Labor says Sydney airport security a joke

CANBERRA, Aug 15 AAP - Labor homeland security spokesman Arch Bevis says reports of
lax security at Sydney airport are alarming, given the current terror threats around the
world.

News Limited newspapers today said Sydney airport had adopted an "open-door policy"

on terrorism, with gates to the complex left wide open to the public.

"The reports today of yet another breach at Sydney airport is making a mockery of our
aviation security at a time when we actually need to be reassured things are in order,"

Mr Bevis told reporters in Canberra.

"It's patently clear they are not. Sydney airport security is becoming the standing
joke of the aviation security industry."

Mr Bevis said only a couple of weeks ago, two cars tail-gated a van through security
gates at the airport without passing proper checks.

"This time we have got gates that are left open and secure nothing at all," Mr Bevis said.

"It's time the minister got on top of this ... the time has come where the prime minister
needs to step in and make sure that aviation security in Australia is brought up to speed.

"Sydney is the biggest airport in this country and yet security at this airport is
well below standard."

Mr Bevis said the government's inspector of transport security, Mick Palmer, needed
to be on the job full-time because, at present, he was only working on average one day
a week.

"This is a joke," Mr Bevis said.

AAP nb/srp/sd

KEYWORD: TERROR BEVIS

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