Australian authorities are unable to prove that airline passenger screening in the country is effective or that airport screening authorities fully comply with the rules, a new report has found.
The report by the Australian National Audit Office found that the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development was unable to provide the assurances because of poor data collection and inadequate records.
While the Australian report stopped short of concluding the nation’s airport screening did not work, it found problems with the way the department managed the process and highlighted failures to implement the recommendations of “successive reviews’’.
The embarrassing conclusions come after the US Transportation Security Administration was last year left red-faced after screeners failed to detect weapons and explosives in 67 of 70 undercover tests conducted by teams from the Department of Homeland Security.
The Australian department does not employ security screeners directly but leaves day-to-day operations to airport operators and screening authorities.
It sets the regulatory framework and establishes minimum standards for passenger screening as well as a compliance program for security controlled airports.
“However, the department is unable to provide assurance that passenger screening is effective, or to what extent screening authorities comply with the regulations, due to poor data and inadequate records,’’ the report said.
“The department does not have meaningful passenger screening performance targets or enforcement strategies and does not direct resources to areas with a higher risk of non-compliance.’’
The ANAO found the regulatory framework covering screening was sound but that the department had failed to address a number of systemic issues hampering its ability to implement a risk-based regime and provide the passenger screening assurance.
“The need to develop performance measures, analyse compliance data, implement an enforcement policy and provide adequate training have been identified in successive reviews but solutions are yet to be delivered,’’ it said.
Compliance activities run by the department include audits, inspections and tests aimed at assessing the effectiveness of aviation security and passenger screening.
But the ANAO found the compliance program did not look at the levels at which individual airport operators or screening authorities performed.
It also did not take into account non-compliance trends and this meant staff were not effectively deployed to areas that may require additional support or monitoring.
There was also no process for escalating serious or systemic non-compliance, and no guidance on available sanctions when operators did not obey the rules.
“Clear guidance on available enforcement options that are proportionate to the risks, and guidance on their application, would assist in the management of non-compliance,’’ the report said.
The department agreed to a series of recommendations put by the ANAO to improve its data collection and oversight and noted a 2015 review had prompted it to invest in “the broad reform of its transport security regulatory operations”.
It said the reform program included a redesign of the transport security operating model, and improvements to the regulatory management system.
“The reform program will drive key changes to the way the department regulates domestic passenger screening,’’ it said.
On its inability to show the effectiveness of passenger screening, the department said initiatives underway to improve the quality of data and record keeping should be completed early next year.
Transport Minister Darren Chester welcomed the ANAO report and said its recommendations would help the government to further strengthen and refine aviation security.
“Australia has a comprehensive and strong aviation security system in place and keeping the public safe and secure remains our highest priority,’’ Chester said.
“As the security environment continues to change and evolve, the Government works closely with the aviation industry, intelligence and law enforcement agencies to continually monitor and update this system. ‘’
Chester listed a number of initiatives on which the Australian government was working to reinforce aviation security.
These included strengthening Australia’s aviation security identity card scheme. Including working towards the introduction of biometric identification, boosting airside security and improving air cargo security.
It was also working with industry to test new equipment and procedures that could improve the efficiency and effectiveness of aviation security measures.
“Following major events, such as the recent attacks in Brussels and Istanbul, we are working closely with international partners to analyse what happened and apply lessons learned to our aviation sector,’’ he said.
