Govt reassures on airport security

The Age Tuesday 10 June 2003, 8:30 PM

The federal government has promised that tough background checks of airline employees would uncover any security threats after allegations a man linked to al-Qaeda had worked for Qantas.

Reports compiled by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) linked former Qantas baggage handler Bilal Khazal to al-Qaeda and said he worked at Sydney's international airport in the lead-up to the Olympics in 2000.

He was discovered during a security review at Sydney airport and has since had his passport confiscated as authorities investigate him.

Mr Khazal now runs an internet site for the Islamic Youth Movement in Sydney.

He was allegedly planning terrorist attacks on US interests in Venezuela and the Philippines, ABC television said on Monday.

Transport Minister John Anderson said new security arrangements would stop people with suspected terrorist links being employed.

"People who hold ASIC cards, airport security cards, will now all face the toughest and most stringent background checks of any country in the western world including checks for political involvement and attitude," he said.

Terrorism expert Clive Williams said people working at airports should undergo vigorous security checks before being cleared to go near aircraft.

"I think it is a problem that many of the people who work on the air site at airports haven't been sufficiently cleared and it has traditionally been an area where there's a high turnover of staff," he said.

NSW secretary of the Transport Workers Union Tony Sheldon said the allegations surrounding Mr Khazal alarmed him and he questioned whether there were other people with terrorist links working at Australian airports.

Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey said security was part and parcel of his airline's business.

"I think the security in Australia is in fact now probably getting close to second to none. I don't think security is an issue today," he said.

And REX airline chief executive Michael Jones said nobody could work inside major airports unless they had a security check.

"I don't think there is a security risk because it has been picked up," he said.

A senior member of the Lebanese community also said Mr Khazal was not a threat.