Home Affairs refuses to fund airport security upgrade after alleged hijacking attempt
Home Affairs has declared the Avalon Airport hijacking attempt Australia's most serious aviation threat in a decade, but refuses to fund airport security upgrades.
The alleged attempted hijacking of a Jetstar flight at Avalon Airport in Victoria by a shotgun-wielding teenager was the “most serious” aviation threat in Australia since a terrorist plot was foiled almost a decade ago, according to the head of the federal government’s investigation into airport security.
But despite acknowledging the dire threat posed when the 17-year-old boy allegedly stormed the Sydney-bound flight carrying 160 passengers, The Australian can reveal the government is refusing to offer any funding to increase security at airports.
Documents released under Freedom of Information reveal Department of Home Affairs assistant secretary (aviation security) Matthew Pedler, who is leading the taskforce reviewing security ordered after the March 6 incident, issued the dramatic assessment at a meeting with airport operators on June 13.
The three-page briefing note from the perimeter security working group meeting also shows that despite the serious incident, Mr Pedler told airport operators there would be no Home Affairs funding to boost security.
“The chair noted that the incident at Avalon in March 2025 represents the most serious aviation security incident in Australia since the disrupted terror plot at Sydney Airport in 2017,” the minutes from the June 13 meeting state.
“There is an expectation from government and the public that action be taken, and taken quickly, to ensure incidents like Avalon are not able to occur again.”
The 2017 terror plot involved an attempt by two brothers to bring down an Etihad Airways plane out of Sydney, using bombs packed in a meat grinder and a Barbie doll. The plot failed when the bag containing the explosives was rejected at check-in because it was too heavy.
At the June 13 security meeting, the airport operators were briefed that Home Affairs could arrange private security companies to present options to harden perimeter security at their airports, but there would be no help with the funding.
“Members queried whether funding was available from Home Affairs to support any new measures implemented by an airport,” the minutes from the June 13 meeting state. “The chair advised that no Home Affairs funding is available.”
Opposition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie, who obtained the three-page briefing note under FoI laws, said the federal government was dropping the ball on aviation security.
“Keeping Australians safe is the first duty of government, especially at our airports, which have been historical targets of terrorism,” he told The Australian.
“Five months out from the most serious airport security incident in the last decade, and we are no closer to the truth about how this massive security lapse occurred and what the government will do to make sure it never happens again.
“Travellers and workers expect high levels of security at our airports, and the federal government must meet that standard.”
The Department of Home Affairs said the government’s “first priority is, and will always be, to keep Australians safe and secure, including when travelling by air” and the department sets the broad requirements and outcomes for aviation security.
“Within this framework, airports and airlines are responsible for delivering aviation security requirements and managing day-to-day security operations, including the associated costs,” a spokesperson said.
“This is a longstanding policy of successive governments and is a key pillar of Australia’s aviation security framework.
“The department is continually engaged with all airport operators to ensure that appropriate security measures are in place that are suited to each airport’s threat environment, and there are measures at all security-regulated airports to ensure the safety and security of travellers. Some of these measures are visible to travellers while others are not.”
The teenager allegedly behind the plot, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, remains in custody facing six criminal charges: prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft with the intent to kill; an attempted hijack; assaulting a member of an airline crew; prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft; and possessing two or more firearms.
The dramatic events that led to heroic passengers and crew wrestling the teen to the floor of the plane highlighted major security gaps at Avalon Airport.
At the time, The Australian reported that Avalon was trapped in a security “no man’s land’’ between federal and state authorities. When the incident unfolded, the nearest armed police were 9km away in Lara and the Australian Federal Police has no permanent presence at the regional airport.
Avalon Airport CEO Ari Suss said the Linfox-owned airport was implementing and funding its own security upgrade in the wake of the alleged attempted hijacking.
“Avalon Airport took the March 6 incident extremely seriously,” Mr Suss said.
“Since then, Avalon has undertaken an independent review of procedures and operations and is implementing a series of permanent security enhancements.
“We have committed our own resources to ensure these enhancements are delivered and continue to work closely with law enforcement and regulators to maintain the highest security standards. Avalon supports the millions of passengers who travel through the airport, with their safety and security as our highest priority.”
Victoria Police confirmed on Tuesday it still does not have a permanent presence at Avalon, but “provides a consistent response through patrols of the greater Avalon precinct”.
“This precinct includes Avalon Airport and several significant industrial sites,” a police spokesperson said.
“Local senior police also regularly meet with airport management where security is discussed, and we have capacity to increase our response based on intelligence and/or planned events.”
The AFP – which is deployed at Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney airports – declined to comment.
When the 17-year-old last appeared in the Children’s Court in July, the hearing was told that he had been undergoing tests for potential neurological and psychological disorders.
Defence lawyers said the boy had been sent to a hospital to undergo “extensive” brain scans to form a view on his mental health.
The court extended an existing suppression order on the matter until October 21.
The order prevents media outlets from publishing any information they obtain, whether from the court case or by other means, relating to “the identity of (or anything that might tend to identify) any foreigner or foreign entities that the accused has communicated with, or with whom the accused attempted to or intended to communicate, in connection with the events of 6 March 2025 that resulted in his arrest”.
The media is also prohibited from publishing information relating to “the nature or content of any such communication or attempted/intended communication” and the “nature or content of any documents found in the vehicle used by the accused in connection with the events of 6 March 2025”.
