With the inclusion of additional counter-terrorism measures, Australians should expect delays during check-in and departure.
In a bid to stop Australian citizens from engaging in overseas conflicts, the federal government has announced that it intends to expand passenger processing systems.
The increase of counter-terrorism measures follows the funding of new counter-terrorism units and the introduction of 62 departure e-gates.
Immigration Minister, Scott Morrison has warned that the stringent measures will lead to travel delays at Australian airports.
“The barbarous conflict we are witnessing in Syria and Iraq has attracted foreign combatants from across the globe, including 60 Australians,” he told the Press Club on Wednesday.
“There is a real and serious risk that they will return as recipients of terrorist training, even more radicalised than before, and at the very least seek to propagate the heinous, hateful and intolerant messaging of terrorist groups back to Australia.”
Morrison’s announcement comes in wake of the provision of an additional $(AUD)630 million, over the next four years, to counter the threat of terrorism both in Australian and overseas.
“Identifying and stopping people is one thing, but giving our people the stronger powers they need to prevent their entry or departure from Australia in our national interest is essential to getting this job done,” Morrison said.
The increase in threat has ASIO director-general, David Irvine considering the possibility of raising the terrorism alert level from medium to high.
This translates to a “likely” possibility of an attack and an increase in threat levels that haven’t been altered since 2003.