Burke’s snap security review for Adelaide Airport must include regional sites with no screening

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke launched a snap security review of airports after a teenager allegedly tried to hijack a flight – but left out regional SA sites.

Tony Burke has called for a snap security review of airports across Australia in the wake of an apparent attempted hijacking at Melbourne’s Avalon Airport. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

No South Australian regional airports are included in a major national security review of aviation sparked by a terror scare at Victoria’s Avalon Airport – despite some passengers boarding local planes without any screening.

Adelaide Airport is among numerous sites Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is targeting in the snap security review after a teenager with a loaded gun allegedly tried to hijack a flight – but regional airports aren’t on the list.

The omission has sparked calls from Barker MP Tony Pasin – whose electorate includes Mount Gambier Regional Airport, where there is no screening – to have every regional airport with regular passenger services urgently added to the review.

The 17-year-boy boarded a Jetstar flight at Avalon Airport on Thursday, allegedly claiming he was also carrying explosives. He has been charged with several offences, including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft.

Adelaide Airport is among the sites targeted in the security review after a teenager with a loaded gun allegedly tried to hijack a flight. Picture: Supplied

Mr Pasin supported an Australian Airports Association (AAA) assessment that national airports were relatively safe, but said “the facts of this case speak for themselves, and I would think all Australians would be concerned that someone could get on an aircraft with a shotgun”.

Port Lincoln Airport only has intermittent screening of passengers, with Lower Eyre Council Mayor Jo-Anne Quigley saying the review must go further.

“Regional airports absolutely should be included when we have these non-screening windows. It doesn’t take a lot for someone to realise that,” she said.

Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia agreed, saying that excluding SA’s regional airports in the review was a “serious oversight” as “these sorts of incidents can happen anywhere”.

“Tony Burke must provide a clear explanation for why SA’s regional airports have been left out of this critical review,” he said.

Mr Burke has listed Adelaide Airport among nine major city airports to be scrutinised. Other smaller airports to be assessed include Hobart, Alice Springs, Launceston, Sunshine Coast, Newcastle, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Avalon.

“On Friday, I directed my department to write to Avalon and all similar airports to inform them that they will be required to conduct a risk assessment to determine what security upgrades are necessary to prevent incidents like this one,” Mr Burke said.

“The department is also working on measures (including use of directive powers) which would require airports to improve detection and monitoring of any intrusion into their grounds.

“Passenger safety is always our priority and we are using all tools at our disposal to ensure an incident like this does not happen again.”

No South Australian regional airports are included in the national security review. Picture: Zoe Wighton Residential & Architectural Photography.

But Whyalla, Port Lincoln, Ceduna and Mt Gambier – where there is currently a dispute about who will pay for new screening to be installed – are not on the list.

Mr Tarzia said Mount Gambier Airport was looking for federal funding to improve its security measures while Port Lincoln Airport handled nearly 200,000 passengers per year.

Adelaide Airport is currently upgrading its passenger screening and baggage handling system, and a spokesperson said safety and security at the airport remained paramount.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with the federal government and its regulatory authorities including Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police on all aspects of our security monitoring, both within our terminal and across our airfield,” he said.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the federal government was responsible for all airport security.

“I have always trusted our nation’s security measures which are constantly monitored by the appropriate federal agencies,” he said.

AAA chief executive officer Simon Westaway said the organisation was closely monitoring fallout from the incident at Avalon.

“It should be noted that last Thursday’s incident was an extremely rare event, and Australia’s aviation industry is incredibly safe,” he said.