Scanners 'may give false sense of security'

15 Aug 2012, 1:20 pm   -   Source: AAP
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The Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Screening) Bill 2012 mandates the use of body scanners to check airline passengers on the grounds it will provide optimal security with minimal impact. (AAP)

The Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Screening) Bill 2012 mandates the use of body scanners to check airline passengers on the grounds it will provide optimal security with minimal impact. (AAP)

The Australian Greens and independent senator Nick Xenophon warn airport scanners could give travellers a false sense of security.

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New airport scanners could produce a false sense of security, the Australian Greens and independent senator Nick Xenophon warn.

Greens senator Lee Rhiannon says anything from buckles, watches, hair clips, studs and zippers could trip alarms with half those scanned in trials in Sydney and Melbourne needing further searches.

The federal transport department has conceded the process is slower than traditional metal detectors.

"It comes back to how we ensure that the safety measures being put in place for air travel actually work and don't result in a false sense of security," Senator Rhiannon told parliament on Wednesday.

"This bill could be giving a false sense of security."

Senator Xenophon said there were still questions about security checking of airport staff, noting many issues surrounding aviation security were not known until the Wheeler review of 2005.

The Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Screening) Bill 2012 mandates the use of body scanners to check airline passengers on the grounds it will provide optimal security with minimal impact.

The government and coalition are backing the legislation.

Liberal senator David Fawcett says the need for scanners arose from a 2009 incident in which a terrorist evaded security to smuggle a bomb hidden in his underpants onto an aircraft from Amsterdam to Detroit.

"Because they weren't metallic none of the existing procedures actually picked up those explosives," he said.

The Greens are proposing amendments that would allow travellers to request a frisk search as an alternative to a scan.

As well, scanning equipment which uses X-ray technology would be banned.

Although current scanning equipment uses low doses of microwaves, the legislation does not rule out use of X-ray equipment.

Senator Rhiannon said that was especially relevant to air crew and frequent flyers who regularly passed through the scanners.

Coalition senator Ian Macdonald said the new measures had financially burdened the remote Torres Shire Council, in far north Queensland.

The council had to build a temporary facility adjacent to its existing terminal, which is classed as an international airport, to house the scanner.

"In the Torres Strait there is no other way of getting in and out," Senator Macdonald told the upper house.

"It (the cost) shouldn't be lumbered on to the people of Torres Strait."

Senator Kim Carr, representing Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, said the government had provided adequate assistance to the council for the provision of the scanners, which cost $230,000 each.

Senator Rhiannon moved an amendment to allow people to opt out of screening and choose a frisk search as an alternative, similar to measures in the United States.

Senator Carr said people with legitimate reasons, such as having pacemakers or being confined to wheelchairs, would be able to avoid the scanners.

The bill later passed the Senate, after the Greens amendments were defeated.

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Your Comments

Government lies

Amy - from Canberra, 10 months ago

No, the government has never provided "adequate assistance". All through the public consultation and trial period last year, they said there would be an opt out option. That changed, with no warning, when the bill was tabled in Feb. Then they rushed the bill through, preventing many submissions to the inquiry's. All submissions, other then those by or acting for the government, were opposed. Australia does not need, nor want, these scanners. Again, the government doesn't listen or care.

Scanners = epic fail

Amy - from Flynn, CBR, 10 months ago

The Greens are right. The scanners don't work, they give off false positives - alarming on almost anything, including sweat, body fat and clothing. Israeli security experts have stated they can get enough explosives through them to bring down a 747. They can be bypassed simply by having a pocket on the side of the body. A metal object on the side won't be seen by the scanner. They aren't even able to detect "underwear bombs", the reason the government says they are "needed".

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