Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

The Aviation Transport Security Amendment (2009 Measures No. 2) Bill 2009 will enhance the security of the air cargo supply chain, the Office of Transport Security and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, which regulates the transport security industry, to minimise the risk of unlawful interference that could result in catastrophic consequences for an aircraft with an improvised explosive device in air cargo. The security of air cargo is critical to ensure Australia’s compliance with the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the Chicago convention, and also to ensure we meet the security requirements of key trading partners such as the United States and the European Union.

On 9 February 2010 the government announced a comprehensive package of measures to strengthen Australia’s international and domestic aviation security regime against emerging threats. The package includes measures to enhance Australia’s air cargo supply chain security framework. The government will provide financial assistance to industry to install X-ray explosive trace detection technology at selected locations and establish a regulated shipper scheme. The enhanced measures will enable identification of high-risk air cargo for technology based examination to take place at an earlier point in the supply chain where cargo consignments are less consolidated. The bill and its regulations will ensure that when a parcel gets to the airport there will be assurance for the person who loads the air cargo that it has been security cleared. The bill provides the foundation for a whole-of-supply chain security system which is sufficiently flexible to meet changes in the external environment. I note the support of the Liberal and National parties for this legislation.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.