Outsourcing an airport risk

Date: 25 June 2009

A yet to be released report by the Australian Crime Commission has again pointed to the problems of outsourced labour at Australia's airports, allowing people with criminal records access to extremely sensitive areas of the airport.

Transport Workers Union federal secretary, Tony Sheldon, said reports that police are concerned recommendations from the 2005 Wheeler Report had still not been implemented by Airport Authorities, including Sydney Airport Corporation Limited, owned by Macquarie Airports.

"The airport owners and major airlines need to finally realise that cost cutting exercises in the aviation industry are a threat to the security of the travelling public," Mr Sheldon said.

"Reports that a senior outlaw-biker is working for an outsourced security firm in Melbourne is just one of the major problems we are facing here.

"We have also had two serious security breaches in recent months, with the bikie brawl and another security breach at the international airport. In both cases, flaws in the airport's security arrangements were highlighted.

"We need airport operators and major airlines to take responsibility for what is in their operations. It is not good enough that companies making millions of dollars a year sub-contract out work to firms who do not ASIO check their staff, just so the company can save money.

"The one saving grace here is the $53 million the federal government has recently put towards improving airport security because the people operating the airports have certainly dropped the ball. Having said that, Macquarie Airports makes millions of dollars a year and it should not be left to the taxpayer to subsidise security," Mr Sheldon said.

For further information

Contact:	Seth Tenkate
Union:	TWU
Contact Mobile:	0408 463 199
WWW:	http://www.twu.com.au/

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