Passengers could soon take their travel scissors, metal cutlery and small tools on planes, if the Australian government decides to change airport security measures on ‘low-risk’ travellers.
The Australian Office of Transport Security this week recommended a review on airport security that will allow staff to focus on more dangerous items and ‘high-risk’ passengers.
Changes suggested include removing less risky items off the proscribed or banned list.
Sachi Wimmer, executive director of the Office of Transport Security said “one size doesn’t fit all” when it comes to airport security and focus should be placed on higher security risks. This includes moving to risk-based screening for passengers – although she didn’t reveal how the government would determine which passengers presented high or low risk.
“Our challenge is ensuring security outcomes are maintained and dealing with the perception they might not be which happens every time we change security settings.”
Sachi Wimmer, Office of Transport Security executive director
She added that if it were solely up to her, she would exclude scissors with blades of six centimeters or less, tools no bigger than six centimeters and metal cutlery with rounded edges.
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According to The Age, Australian Airport Association chairman, Stephen Goodwin said outlined changes made sense.
“Some people would see that as a scary thing but when a screener needs to look for so many items on a daily basis hundreds and hundreds of times, that is a challenge.”
Stephen Goodwin, Australian Airport Association chairman
Australia’s tourism forecast is expected to reach 260 million travellers by 2030.
Easing up regulations on low-risk passengers would allow visitors to pass through security faster.
