AUSTRALIA's government has unveiled an A$57.2 million (US$47.37 million) spending package to increase aviation security to comply with international standards.
The aviation security programme calls for Canberra to spend A$18.6 million over four years to establish an accreditation scheme for land transport operators that carry air cargo.
Another key aspect of the federal aviation security programme is for the nation's 26 regional airports to begin screening checked baggage from August 1.
At the same time, the nation's 11 major airports will also start screening the checked baggage of their domestic passengers as they currently only screen the checked baggage of their international passengers.
"The government will spend an extra A$18.2 million over four years to ensure that the Office of Transport Security (OTS) can maintain the intensity of its inspection programme. In the first six months of 2006-07, its inspectors carried out 248 inspections at airports and 98 inspections of airlines," said Transport Minister Mark Vaile.
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