Full body scanners to be introduced at airports

09 February 2010 | 08:04:12 PM | Source: AAP

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Travellers are facing full body scans, increased security and more expensive flights with the government announcing a $200 million plan to beef up airport defence against extremists.

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The controversial scanners will start appearing in airports next year alongside an increased number of police and sniffer dogs amid a wider security presence.

"No nation can afford to be complacent when it comes to security," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

"The government's highest priority is the safety and security of Australians."

Part of the impetus for the spending comes from the attempted Christmas Day attack on a North-West Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit by the so-called underpants bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

The government's recently released aviation white paper also called for increased security measures in the air and at airports.

In a lengthy list of measures, Mr Rudd also committed the government to providing $32 million to introduce security screening at regional airports.

This particular measure has been floated by the government previously but no money has ever been promised for the scheme.

Opposition transport spokesman Warren Truss questioned whether the $32 million would be enough for airports that might include communities like Dubbo in NSW, Carnarvon in Western Australia and Weipa in Far North Queensland.
   
"The government's proposed support for regional airports to assist with screening upgrades is welcome but still only about a third of the estimated $100 million needed to prepare at least 20 airports for mandatory screening," Mr Truss said.

Sources inside major airlines said it was almost certain ticket prices would rise as part of a "flow through" despite the government's significant spending.

A Qantas spokeswoman told AAP the legacy carrier would "work closely with the government" on the project.

Singapore Airlines regional vice president Subash Menon said the airline was comfortable with the changes.

"The government is acting in a reasonable and enlightened manner. This is a positive development," Mr Menon told AAP.

He said it was difficult to make a snap decision about whether the money was enough to fulfill all the promises.

"It's hard to say whether it's enough but it looks like it is going to the right places.

"With all that is happening you can't be too safe."

Civil liberties groups raised concerns about the introduction of full body screening calling for the technology to be capable of changing images from naked bodies to diagrams.

The Queensland Council for Civil Liberties suggested passengers should be able to opt out of scanning and choose a pat down instead.

"The government understands the privacy concerns some travellers may have with body-scanning technologies and will implement appropriate privacy and facilitation measures to mitigate these concerns," Mr Rudd said.
 

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Your Comments

07 May 2011 20:25 AEST

Bnask

From: Australia

Mr

Does Chertoff own these as well???

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05 Jan 2011 11:06 AEST

Marios

From: Melbourne

Cancer Risk

No doctor would ever recommend that you have unnecessary X-rays yet we are told if we want to travel we have to submit to being bombarded by radiation scans. I'm disgusted there has been no debate on this technology and that the medical associations in this country have allowed this to happen. Make no mistake whether you are going through these scanners or operating them you are exposing yourself to DNA destroying radiation. We must push to have pat downs as an option. Don't let tyranny prevail

Agree (2 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
 

05 Jan 2011 11:05 AEST

Marios

From: Melbourne

Cancer Risk

No doctor would ever recommend that you have unnecessary X-rays yet we are told if we want to travel we have to submit to being bombarded by radiation scans. I'm disgusted there has been no debate on this technology and that the medical associations in this country have allowed this to happen. Make no mistake whether you are going through these scanners or operating them you are exposing yourself to DNA destroying radiation. We must push to have pat downs as an option. Don't let tyranny prevail

Agree (0 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
 

24 Nov 2010 13:51 AEST

Morgan

From: Northville MI

This is crazy!!!!!

Crazy!!!!!!! My freind has to go on the plane alot. I'm worried she's going to get cancer because alot of people are saying it's higher risk of cancer!!! And it's not like anyone's going to go through the pat down!

Agree (2 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
 

18 Oct 2010 17:03 AEST

Sharon

From: Lismore

Wake up Australia and smell the BS!

Aren't we beyond believing in the tooth fairy, santa and.... err Terrorism? With overwhelming evidence that 9/11 was an inside job, the only real terrorists appear to be the western fascist governements bent on creating a climate of fear and sickness. This is a complete disregard for human dignity and freedom - you should be outraged Australia!!

Agree (3 people agree)
Disagree (1 people disagree)
 

10 Feb 2010 13:00 AEST

Vox Liberalis

From: NSW

Rudd Grabs More Power

Only the Americans and their allies accept that the "attempted Christmas Day attack" was real, the rest of the world has concluded that the "Attack" was coreographed by the CIA to strengthen their case for more Government power. Remembering that it is in the government's best interests to maintain a climate of fear, we have a right to be sceptical. As for the scanners, only selected passengers will be screened so if you don't look like a Muslim you should have nothing to worry about.

Agree (6 people agree)
Disagree (1 people disagree)
 

10 Feb 2010 0:06 AEST

B.O'neal

From: Perth WA

Aviation security

All well and good having full body scanners revealing breast implants and showing the naked form but what's to stop the terrorist putting a condom inside him or her and concealing a substance like the drug traffickers do? will this scanner show a condom inside the human body? we have to do something i agree but each time we more one step they move as well. If this does scan the body to that degree then is it harmful for people that goes though each day?

Agree (3 people agree)
Disagree (2 people disagree)
 

09 Feb 2010 20:26 AEST

Travis

From: Hobart

what is next??!

And then they tell us it is the "terrorists" that are taking our freedom away!!!!....i want a revolution!

Agree (12 people agree)
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