Australia to Upgrade Airport Security

Australia to upgrade airport security

CANBERRA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) — Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Wednesday announced that the federal government will spend 200 million Australian dollars (154 million US dollars) to beef up security in the country’s airports.

Under the plan, 40.9 million dollars (31.5 million US dollars) will be used to establish airport investigation teams in state capitals including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth to address crime.

The plan also includes 48.7 million dollars (37.5 million US dollars) for Customs border patrols at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide Perth, Darwin and Cairns airports.

Thirty-eight million dollars (29.3 million US dollars) will be spent to strengthen air cargo security arrangements, including the introduction of improved technology for the detection of explosives.

Other changes include a 19.8 million-dollar (15.2 million US dollars) upgrade of Customs’ CCTV capabilities, including assistance for airport operators and additional cameras at major airports.

The move was in response to a report on Australia’s airport security prepared by British security export John Wheeler.

Howard said the report recommends greater cooperation between federal and state police.

“It does highlight some areas that need improvement, that need greater cooperation, between government agencies and greater cooperation between the Commonwealth and the states,” he said in Melbourne.

“His major proposal it is the appointment of a airport police commander at each (of the) 11 category one airports in Australia,” Howard was quoted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio as saying.

Howard will discuss the changes at a meeting with state and territories leaders here next week, at which the proposed new anti- terror laws will also be discussed.