Fears new airport rule will create massive problems

The government is planning to introduce new airport rules which could create massive problems in airports for travellers.

The proposed laws would give police at ‘major’ airports the power to direct a person to provide evidence of their identity, and empowers officers to direct a person to leave an airport, or not take a flight, for up to 24 hours.

Presently, the bill does not provide for compensation or inconvenience fees for passengers who would miss their flights due to checks.

A parliamentary committee will take evidence from lawyers and government officials about the police powers laws on Wednesday.

Innocent citizens could be caught up in proposed new laws giving police greater powers at airports, the Law Council says.

The laws were sparked by a number of recent incidents including a July 2017 terrorist plot targeting international flights departing Sydney.

However, Law Council president-elect Arthur Moses said the laws needed to be clearer in stating what was meant by the “good order” of an airport and flights.

“This creates uncertainty and the potential for the powers to be exercised… in an arbitrary and potentially ad hoc manner,” he said in his written submission to the inquiry.

The laws should also allow for judicial review of decisions including compensation for inconvenience of passengers.

-With AAP