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Unions welcome ALP Security Task Forc

10 February 2006

By joint media release -

The TWU, MUA and RTBU welcome the establishment of the Transport and Maritime Security Task Force and are confident that this committee will take a genuine approach to addressing security issues.

It is a shame the same could not be said of the Howard Government.

John Allan, Federal Secretary of the Transport Workers' Union said that "despite the recommendations of Sir John Wheeler, flown out from the UK to inquire into aviation security, the Howard Government has not committed to screening 100% of domestic and international luggage - surely one of the most significant threats to airport security".

"Hundreds of thousands of empty containers enter Australian ports without inspection and only about 4% of full containers are x-rayed", National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said, "and this has been brought to the Governments attention many times".

Bob Hayden, National Secretary of the Rail, Tram & Bus Union pointed out that "not only do we face the problem of unchecked containers from ports being hauled across thecountry on rail, the Howard Government does not have a security strategy for the passenger rail, tram & bus networks".

The MUA also claim that Mr Howard and his Ministers are eager to make airport, rail and port workers jump through "background checking hoops", yet allow hundreds of foreign workers to sail into our ports every day under a flag of convenience ship, without submitting to any background checking at all. The hypocrisy is staggering.

Further, Mr Howard's refusal to establish a single aviation national coordinating body, as established in the USA, UK and Canada, will ensure that aviation security in Australia will not function in an effective and coordinated manner.

The TWU, MUA and RTBU are confident that Labor's Transport and Maritime Security Task Force will listen and recommend common sense and pragmatic reforms.

TWU MUA RTBU

Media contact: Danni Whyte 0414 813 830



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