Police numbers are to be boosted at nine Australian airports as part of a counter-terrorism offensive launched by the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison.
Mr Morrison said 135 additional police and protective service officers would be deployed with firearm and explosive detective canines over the next 18 months.
“These new measures will help protect thousands of Australians that travel and visit airports every day,” Mr Morrison said.
Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton said the boost to airport security was based on longstanding assessment advice from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
“Recent global events serve as an important reminder that the threat posed to the public by terrorism and other crime types hadn’t diminished,” Mr Dutton said.
“This national roll-out is a necessary and timely measure to counter aviation security threats and will support the dedicated officers of the AFP in protecting our community.”
Mr Morrison said that while the rollout would take place over the next 18 months, travellers through Canberra and Brisbane would see the first of the new officers patrolling before Christmas.
He said officers would be deployed to airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast over the next six months, with the ranks at Cairns, Adelaide and Darwin airports bolstered in 2021.
Mr Morrison said the changes would not impact the movement of travellers through Australian airports.
