11 MAY: Australian airport operators want more Customs officers, claiming manpower isn’t being increased in line with rising passenger numbers.
And they warn that processing delays will grow if something isn’t done.
Australian Airports Association chairman John McArdle says government policy encourages tourism and aviation growth, but not the Customs and immigration staff to support it, the ABC reports.
He warns that Customs processing times at airports will increase if the Government does not budget for more staff.
"Each time you see a budget passed down for those agencies, it seems to be a cost-cutting exercise rather than perhaps looking at better efficiencies and providing the staff numbers where they are needed," he says.
