Official Committee Hansard

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Official Committee Hansard JOINT COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT Reference: Further inquiry into aviation security in Australia THURSDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2005 PERTH BY AUTHORITY OF THE PARLIAMENT INTERNET The Proof and Official Hansard transcripts of Senate committee hearings, some House of Representatives committee hearings and some joint committee hearings are available on the Internet. Some House of Representatives committees and some joint committees make available only Official Hansard transcripts. The Internet address is: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard To search the parliamentary database, go to: http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au JOINT COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT Thursday, 22 September 2005 Members: Mr Baldwin (Chair), Ms Grierson (Deputy Chair), Senators Hogg, Humphries, Moore, Murray, Nash and Watson and Mrs Bronwyn Bishop, Mr Broadbent, Dr Emerson, Miss Jackie Kelly, Ms King, Mr Laming, Mr Tanner and Mr Ticehurst Senators and members in attendance: Senators Hogg and Moore and Mr Baldwin, Ms Grierson and Mr Laming Terms of reference for the inquiry: To inquire into and report on: Developments in aviation security since its June 2004 Report 400: Review of Aviation Security in Australia, with particular reference to: a) regulation of aviation security by the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services, and the Department’s response to aviation security incidents since June 2004; b) compliance with Commonwealth security requirements by airport operators at major and regional airports; c) compliance with Commonwealth security requirements by airlines; d) the impact of overseas security requirements on Australian aviation security; e) cost imposts of security upgrades, particularly for regional airports; f) privacy implications of greater security measures; g) opportunities to enhance security measures presented by current and emerging technologies, including measures to combat identity fraud; and h) procedures for, and security of, baggage handling operations at international, domestic and regional airports, by both airlines and airports. WITNESSES CHALLIS, Mr Don, Program Leader, Passenger Transport, Department for Planning and Infrastructure................................................................................................................................................... 20 FITZGERALD, Mr Neil Francis, Security Operations Manager, Westralia Airports Corporation ......... 1 GAYNOR, Mr Drew, Transport Security Policy Manager, Department for Planning and Infrastructure................................................................................................................................................... 20 PRICE, Mr David, Company Secretary, Westralia Airports Corporation .................................................. 1 WHITMORE, Mr Steven Charles, Aviation Security Manager Perth Airport, Westralia Airports Corporation ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 Thursday, 22 September 2005 JOINT PA 1 Committee met at 1.34 pm FITZGERALD, Mr Neil Francis, Security Operations Manager, Westralia Airports Corporation PRICE, Mr David, Company Secretary, Westralia Airports Corporation WHITMORE, Mr Steven Charles, Aviation Security Manager Perth Airport, Westralia Airports Corporation CHAIR—The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit will now commence taking evidence, as provided for by the Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act of 1951, for its inquiry into aviation security in Australia. I welcome everybody here this afternoon to the fifth public hearing of the committee’s review of developments in aviation security since the tabling of its Report 400: Review of aviation security in Australia. Today we will hear from representatives of the operator of Perth International Airport and the West Australian government. We are currently taking evidence from industry participants around the country to build a picture of the range and variation of conditions covered by the new aviation security regulations. Before beginning, I advise witnesses that the hearings today are a legal proceedings of the parliament and warrant the same respect as proceedings of the House itself. The giving of false or misleading evidence is a serious matter and may be regarded as contempt of parliament. The evidence given today will be recorded by Hansard and will attract parliamentary privilege. Finally, I refer any members of the press who are present to a committee statement about the broadcasting of proceedings. In particular, I draw the media’s attention to the need to report fairly and accurately the proceedings of the committee. Copies of this committee statement are available from secretariat staff. I welcome representatives of the Westralia Airports Commission to today’s hearing. Before we proceed to questioning, would you like to make an opening statement to the committee? Mr Price—Thank you, Chair. Westralia Airports Corporation is pleased to attend this hearing and very happy to assist the committee in its deliberations and its inquiry. We have a long track record of working very closely with the industry and both state and federal governments on aviation security matters in particular. We see this inquiry as an important part of that process and it can only serve to strengthen aviation security in Australia. You have our submission and we are happy to discuss that with you. CHAIR—Thank you very much. Whilst the committee is conducting its own independent review of aviation security and matters outlined in its terms of reference, we do note that yesterday the Wheeler inquiry report was handed down. The recommendations in that report are supported unanimously amongst the members of our committee and we look forward to seeing their implementation. Our committee is drilling deeper into not only those issues but further issues pertaining to not just airport and aviation security but also the criminality aspect of actions that may be taken around the airport. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT PA 2 JOINT Thursday, 22 September 2005 We have had the opportunity this morning to briefly walk into your international terminal. The focus of our meeting this morning was to get a detailed operational brief from the Customs Service at the airport. We found that rather fascinating. Members of the committee, are there any questions? Senator HOGG—Yes. I would like to ask a couple of questions about perimeter security. Have there been breaches of perimeter security at the Perth Airport in recent times? Mr Fitzgerald—Yes. We did have a rather severe breach of security at the airport in March of this year. Three drunken youths got over the fence and made their way to an aircraft that was parked on the international apron. Senator HOGG—One of the things that has been put to us is that you can build fences so high but you will not necessarily keep the terrorists out if they are determined to get in. My question then goes to an issue that I raised when we were at the international terminal before. Some aircraft carrying sensitive equipment that has been loaded, say, at Pearce Air Force Base when landing here at Perth to take on more fuel because they cannot fly out of Pearce with a full fuel load, are not necessarily given the amount of security that you would expect when sitting out on the tarmac. Do you know anything about that? Mr Whitmore—The protection of individual aircraft and freight is the responsibility of the aircraft operator. This airport protects the perimeter and we provide protection on the apron. If a carrier that comes into Perth Airport asks us to provide some additional security, we can arrange that with them. But primarily, the aircraft operator will provide their own protection. With military flights we are often not advised of what is on the aircraft—flights that you talk about that come from Pearce. Senator HOGG—If an aircraft, such as an Antonov or one of those, is doing a major lift for the SAS to take equipment to Iraq, Afghanistan, or one of those places, you are not necessarily made aware of the contents? Mr Whitmore—Not in all cases, no. Senator HOGG—Do you get an undertaking from the shipper in that case, which is not a military shipper but a commercial shipper, to undertake the security or do you get that out of Defence—that they will undertake to secure what could be some sizeable weaponry sitting out there on the tarmac? Mr Whitmore—There is a requirement for them to disclose dangerous cargo, so if there is cargo that is considered dangerous, they are required to disclose that to us and we will make arrangements for the parking of that aircraft; but the protection of it, as I said before, is the responsibility of the aircraft operator and we will provide some additional resources should they choose to request that. Senator HOGG—Have you had any requests in recent times? Mr Fitzgerald—No, I am not aware of having any requests. Normally the military will provide their own guards on the aircraft. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT Thursday, 22 September 2005 JOINT PA 3 Senator HOGG—Have any such aircraft that have been through had additional protection? It seems to me that, if there is going to be a focus for a terrorist attack, that is one of the prime sources. Mr Fitzgerald—We have never been requested to assist with any security on that aircraft. As I stated, they have their own guards on the aircraft. Mr Whitmore—I cannot comment in relation to specific

Load more