Bennett David: Aviation Security Legislation Bill — First Reading 
Bennett David: Aviation Security Legislation Bill — First Reading 
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DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) 
: 
 The Aviation Security Legislation Bill seeks to enhance New Zealand’s civil aviation security measures and to support its obligations under international covenants. The catalyst for this legislation was the terrorist attacks of September 11. The bill also amends a number of other Acts. This major legislation coming before this House—as Maurice said to fill in the Order Paper—does not represent any major controversy so National supports it. 
Security is vital for New Zealand and for New Zealanders. Our biggest industry is tourism. Our failure to retain world-class standards in security will diminish our base as a tourist destination and it could potentially affect international visitors’ perceptions. The relative safety of New Zealand has been a driver for increased migration over a number of years since September 11. Our country has an international airline in Air New Zealand. It is also very important that we maintain top-rate security in order that Air New Zealand can be competitive as an international carrier. 
Let us have a look at some of the contentious parts of the legislation. First there is now the possibility of armed marshals on foreign airlines flying into New Zealand and the possibility of armed New Zealand police on New Zealand - based flights. Although there are no immediate plans to take advantage of these possibilities it does open up New Zealand aviation to a whole new travel dynamic. 
Hone Harawira 
: What are the advantages? 
DAVID BENNETT 
: The changes have some advantages. They will give us the security we are looking for in our industry such as being able to counter threats when APEC leaders gather in our region later this year and they will bring New Zealand into line with countries such as Australia Canada Britain and the United States. It is inevitable that we would do this as those major countries of tourist origin and destination deploy many people as air marshals on their own flights. With APEC leaders gathering here it is important that we have that international comparison with our neighbours and are able to provide security for world leaders as they pass through this region. New Zealand has required specific threats to be notified to the Government and then it will decide whether to grant the air marshal request. That seems a fairly reasonable request and process. This is not as some people may contend a bowing to pressure from major countries; rather it represents New Zealand playing its role in the international community. 
New Zealand has no intention of cramming New Zealand flights with armed officers. It is to be only in certain special cases where certain processes have been complied with. When we fly in New Zealand we often think that our major cities like Auckland and Wellington are very vulnerable because in many cases they have major large buildings in direct flight paths. It would not take much for someone to turn one of our domestic airliners into one of our major city buildings. The risk to New Zealand from terrorism is quite great. 
Greater restrictions on what needs to be limited or prohibited from being carried on to planes will be imposed. Anyone travelling through the US would have encountered the 100-gram limits that mean that most toothpastes and allied products cannot be part of passengers’ carry-on luggage. Somewhat innocent products like these and sports drinks could in fact be liquid explosives. New Zealand needs to be aware of such risks and play its part in reducing the likelihood of such occurrences. 
The greater search powers of security officers are aligned with this issue. It is common place when travelling internationally to have to take off one’s shoes when being screened. Other outer garments as Maurice has disclosed are undefined to a large extent but they also have to be removed. There are also pat-down searches if it is felt there is a need for them. Airlines will also have the power to deny the carriage of passengers who refuse to be searched. This mandatory searching requirement also maintains the integrity of the system. 
Overall there are a number of changes. The desire is to make New Zealand’s rules comparable with those of its major tourism countries. Although New Zealand aviation has an international element its most likely weakness is in domestic air travel. There is little or no security at provincial airports covering domestic flights. Planes flying domestic routes can still be hugely dangerous and would be seen as an easy target for terrorists. For example this weekend a passenger carried a rifle on board a flight from New Plymouth to Auckland. 
Hon Harry Duynhoven 
: Wrong. It was over a year ago and it wasn’t a rifle. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: That was from the Minister’s own area. The passenger was pulled aside after his plane landed in Auckland and as he was boarding another flight to Kerikeri. The gun should have been in the cargo hold. This incident serves to represent how relaxed we are about provincial airline travel in New Zealand. Our relaxed attitude could one day spell disaster. People often fly from Hamilton on packed planes. Those planes could be just as dangerous as a 737 airplane that is full. They could do as much damage to a major city when flying from there to Auckland or Wellington. Those are the kinds of areas that New Zealanders need to be aware of as well. 
A campaign called FLYSMART has been designed to educate people who are travelling overseas. It covers the new limits on the amounts of liquids aerosols and gels that can be in people’s carry-on baggage. That is quite a good policy as it educates people at this stage. Such education programmes are necessary because the travel environment has changed. People need to know what they are dealing with post - September 11. Similarly the new International Civil Aviation Organization Aviation Security Training Centre which is based in New Zealand recognises international training standards that also have a role in assisting in aviation security throughout this country. 
Overall this legislation contains a number of initiatives that will lead to a safer environment for New Zealand travellers and for international travellers coming through New Zealand. By doing something to counter the major terrorist threat to our world our reputation in the world of travel will be enhanced.