Australia : Government tightens air cargo security measures.

Byline: kusumv03

The Federal Government plans to amend Australia s aviation security laws in an effort to bolster earlier detection of potential terrorism and criminal activities.

Anthony Albanese 

The Aviation Transport Security Amendment (2009 Measures No.2) Bill 2009 will tighten the air cargo supply chain in a balanced and strategic way, Federal transport and infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese said yesterday.

"The amendments being proposed in this Bill will allow for better security checking earlier in the supply chain when goods are in a less consolidated state and more easily unpacked and scrutinised if necessary," he said.

The proposed changes to the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 would expand the scope of industry participants who can certify cargo.

Under existing rules, only aircraft operators were allowed to certify air cargo even though security measures, such as X-ray screening may have been applied earlier in the supply chain.

The Bill expands the classes of industry participants who can certify for carriage on an aircraft, meaning the person who examines the cargo can also certify it at the same time, Mr Albanese said.

Other amendments included the introduction of a transitional provision for transport security programs to ensure a consistent application of measures in line with the amended definition of cargo proposed in the Bill.

The proposed amendments will clarify the obligations of aviation industry participants in applying security measures along the cargo supply chain and empower the department to specify criteria for cargo certification appropriate to prevailing circumstances, Mr Albanese said

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