Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Ellison, Minister for Justice and Customs. Does the minister recall his claims yesterday about successful airport security enhancements, particularly at regional airports? Is the minister aware of comments by Ms Janine Hugo, the manager of Whyalla Airport, who said that they have ‘been told that it’s not a requirement to use the metal detectors at this stage’ at a regional airport? Given the minister was in here yesterday boasting about the $8 million that the government has spent on so-called hand wand metal detection services, can he now advise the Senate about the other aspects of the regional airports security package that are also optional? Why, under the minister’s watch, can something as fundamental to the security of the travelling public as metal detectors be considered optional?