Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan has voiced concern about the ability of regional airports to meet new Federal Government security guidelines, due to be introduced by December 1.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan has voiced concern about the ability of regional airports to meet new Federal Government security guidelines, due to be introduced by December 1.
Her statement echoes an earlier statement by Western Australian Local Government Association president Bill Mitchell, who said last week the councils which operate these airports would seek a time extension and more funding to implement the upgrades.
The Minister said that while the Commonwealth would provide funding for the purchase of the security equipment, this would only cover about a third of the total cost.
"Local governments will be left to pick up the rest of bill to ensure that their airports have the necessary building infrastructure in place to house the equipment," she said.
"Ultimately these costs will be borne by the passenger, leading to an increase in airfares, which will hit WA's smaller airports the hardest."
Under the proposed upgrades to checked bag screening requirements, six WA airports must to install new equipment to provide explosive trace detection and multi-view x-ray screening at a combined cost of up to $830,000 per airport.
The full text of an announcement from Ms MacTiernan's office is pasted below
The Commonwealth's threat to shut down many regional airport flights in Western Australia is the latest example of Federal Government arrogance and demonstrates its continued lack of interest in regional WA.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said today that the Federal Government's inflexible demands for regional airports to install new security measures by December 1, 2007 were ill-considered and poorly funded.
"The Commonwealth has told regional airports to install new security measures by December 1, 2007 or face the prospect of cancelling services by commercial jet aircraft," Ms MacTiernan said.
"While the State Government supports the Commonwealth's new security measures, its demand for regional airports to upgrade their equipment to meet new baggage checking requirements by this date is typical of the Commonwealth's attitude towards regional WA.
"If the Federal Government carries out its threat to force regional airports to cancel flights this will be a severe blow to WA's growing tourism and resources industries.
"Once again we see a complete lack of awareness and complete disinterest from the Commonwealth on the impact of its policies in WA, even though we are bringing home the bacon for the national economy."
The Minister said that while the Commonwealth would provide funding for the purchase of the security equipment, this would only cover about a third of the total cost.
"Local governments will be left to pick up the rest of bill to ensure that their airports have the necessary building infrastructure in place to house the equipment," she said.
"Ultimately these costs will be borne by the passenger, leading to an increase in airfares, which will hit WA's smaller airports the hardest.
"The whole approach to upgrading security measures at regional airports has been badly thought through by the Federal Government, and with no apparent concern by the Commonwealth for the economic consequences of its inflexible December 1, 2007 deadline."
