Strikes blamed for cargo check failure

The immigration department says its failure to meet cargo inspection targets is the result of industrial action and having to create a shadow workforce.

The immigration department has blamed strikes on its failure to meet cargo inspection targets..

Department secretary Michael Pezzullo told a Senate hearing on Monday that a shadow workforce was created to cope with industrial action over an ongoing pay dispute.

Air cargo targets were missed "marginally", sea cargo targets were a long way from being met but the department exceeded its goal for international mail inspections.