25 Mar 2004

PNG's national airline and Qantas tackling lax security at Port Moresby's airport

4:08 pm on 25 March 2004

In Papua New Guinea Air Niugini and Qantas are working frantically to improve security at Port Moresby's Jackson International Airport.

The move follows comments by Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister, John Anderson, that the Australian government would have no choice but to stop flights into Australia from countries that had lax airport security such as Papua New Guinea.

Australia recently gave the country four x-ray screening maachines to install at the airport and pledged to train local staff to use the machines.

Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu said recently that the Government was working to upgrade air and seaport security measures as part of its commitment to fight terrorism and transnational crime.

Sir Rabbie says skilled Australians will be attached to the Department of Transport and Civil Aviation and the Migration office to train staff on airport security matters.

He says Air Niugini should educate its workers and passengers on the new security measures.