3 MAY: A key Australian trade union has called for improved airport security in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death.
With terrorists expected to react violently to the killing, "gaping holes" in security can no longer be ignored, the Transport Workers Union warns.
"The problem is contracting", TWU secretary Tony Sheldon said in a statement yesterday.
"We don’t know who is doing the (airport) work".
Mr Sheldon claims that up to 25% of airport staff are going to work without proper background checks.
He said six people working for a contracted cleaning company at Canberra airport a few months ago did not have Aviation Security Identification Cards.
"This is the week before the Budget - arguably the busiest week of the year in the Australian Parliament", he said.
"There are a lot of people goiong to be moving through that airport and we need to fill gaping holes in this (security) system.
"Al-Qaeda has targeted Australia in the past in Bali, and have said they will do it again".
