Airport strikes threaten early end to tourism boom

STRIKES targeting one of the busiest travel times of the year threaten to shame Australia and undermine the tourism boom, says Tourism and Transport Forum boss.

History repeats ... Long queues are expected at international airports in the week of September 26 if Border Force staff walk off the job as planned. Picture: John Grainger

MAJOR strike action planned for international airports during the upcoming school holidays could do serious damage to Australia’s tourism image and undermine much of the gains made in recent years.

The Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) which counts commercial airlines and airports among its members, has demanded the Federal Government and Community Public Sector Union resolve their long-running pay dispute before more harm is done.

Immigration and Border Force workers plan to walk off the job for up to a week from September 26, plunging international airports into chaos at one of the busiest times of the year.

TTF CEO Margy Osmond said it was unfair to make the travelling public pay the price for a feud that did not involve them.

Margy Osmond CEO, Tourism & Transport Forum Australia

“Industry is not interested in the blame game, we just want to see an end to these disruptions especially around peak travel times of school holidays and public holiday long weekends,” said Ms Osmond.

“The first experience for an international visitor coming to Australia is walking off an aeroplane or a cruise ship and going through customs, immigration and quarantine.

“We need to be presenting our best face to our visitors not embroiling them in a domestic workplace conflict.”

September is traditionally the biggest month for overseas departures by Australians after December.

In the week starting September 26, as many as 250,000 people are expected to pass through international airports and cruise terminals.

Australian Border Force officers Jeynelle and Catherin with seized from passengers at the Gold Coast Airport. Items seized included knives, animal parts and assorted weapons. ***NOTE*** We cannot use surnames of officers due to security concerns. Picture by Scott Fletcher

The CPSU won’t specify when or where the strikes would take place in the week starting September 26, saying only they were designed to exert maximum pressure on management — so there would not be similar stoppages over Christmas.

Airports said passengers would be advised via websites and social media of the best course of action when the strikes took place.

The rollout of smartgates would also help minimise delays, with 83 now in operation across eight international airports.

Ms Osmond urged both parties to “sit down and negotiate a resolution”.

“Australia welcomed 7.9 million international visitors to our shores in the last 12-months and they contributed more than $38 billion in expenditure to our economy,” she said.

“We should not be putting that at risk by threatening to disrupt their experience at our international gateways.”

The Community and Public Sector Union has warned of significant disruptions and delays at international airports with a new round of industrial action scheduled for today. [PIC] bio security workers protest outside Adelaide Airport pic by Bianca De Marchi - 3.8.15

A Department of Immigration and Border Force spokesman said passengers travelling overseas in the week of September 26 should arrive at airports early.

“As always, the Department will put in place contingency arrangements to ensure Australia’s borders remain protected and the impact on business, stakeholders and the travelling public are minimised,” said the spokesman.

“The Department will do everything in its lawful powers to ensure that Australia’s national security and community safety are not put at risk by the proposed action.”