Airports to get body scanners
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Body scanners will be rolled out at international airports from next year. (Reuters)
Body scanners will be introduced at Australian international airports next year as part of a $200 million Federal Government plan to boost security.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the measures were recommended to the Government in the wake of the Christmas Day terrorism attack, when a man allegedly attempted to set off a bomb on a flight to Detroit in the US.
The body scanners will be rolled out at international airports from next year to screen travellers departing from Australia.
"The Government's priority is to maximise the safety and security of Australians and the Australian travelling public," Mr Rudd said.
Transport Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged there were privacy fears surrounding the use of body scanners because they produce "near naked" images of passengers.
He said the Privacy Commissioner would be involved in the rollout.
"Body scanners are the best technology that is there to identify an item getting onto an aircraft, such as that that occurred on December 25," he said.
Other measures to be implemented include more training for security screening staff, increasing the number of explosive detection dogs, and putting more Australian officers at "last port of call" locations to Australia.
Over $50 million will also be spent to install cargo X-ray screening and explosive trace detection technology and about $11 million will be spent on better identifying visa applicants who could pose a security risk.
The Opposition's transport spokesman, Warren Truss, said he would seek more details from the Government about how it will address the privacy concerns associated with the full body scanners.
"They are real concerns and I can understand how members of the public would be anxious about going through one of these new machines," he said.
"On the other hand, travelling safe is a priority."
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