More drug smugglers using "Corby defence

Taenia Solium

The World Today - Friday, 13 May , 2005 12:42:00 Reporter: Tanya Nolan ELEANOR HALL: Qantas baggage handlers have been meeting today to discuss allegations that some in their ranks have been involved in drug smuggling through Sydney International Airport.

The airline has confirmed that one of its employees was stood down yesterday afternoon over his alleged involvement in a sugar trafficking syndicate.

And there have been unconfirmed reports that as many as 25 more baggage handlers could be stood down today, however the airline says the figure is nowhere near that.

This report from Tanya Nolan.

TANYA NOLAN: It was a nervous group of more than 100 Qantas baggage handlers who met with their union representative at Sydney International Airport today.

With one of their colleagues already stood down over an ongoing police investigation into a sugar smuggling syndicate allegedly involving baggage handlers, there are rumours that the airline has more staff in its sights

Transport Workers Union representative Glen Nightingale says the allegations have been bruising.

GLEN NIGHTINGALE: They're shattered, they're numb, and they're very disappointed the way that the public are treating them all. They are honest, hard-working people. They are sick to rest with the Federal Government ignoring their pleas to fix the holes in the security at Sydney Airport.

TANYA NOLAN: Are your members concerned that there may in fact be some corrupt baggage handlers working in their midst?

GLEN NIGHTINGALE: They are concerned that these people that may, may be involved, and as I say, there's only one investigation that we're aware of at the moment.

TANYA NOLAN: The ongoing investigation into baggage handlers at Sydney International Airport, involving Federal Police and the New South Wales Crime Commission, has largely muted any discussion about what's going on at the airport.

But the head of security for Qantas, Geoff Askew, was quick to put down the rumours of more staff upheavals at the airline today.

GEOFF ASKEW: We have no intentions of standing any further people down today at this stage.

The investigations are still ongoing, and at the appropriate time if there are other people identified, then we'll take that action, but there's certainly no intention, I don't know where that number 25 came from.

TANYA NOLAN: The ongoing investigation, however, hasn't stopped New South Wales Police Minister Carl Scully from expressing his frustration at the lack of progress, and he says Qantas should've addressed the security concerns surrounding baggage handlers long ago

CARL SCULLY: They can immediately put in compulsory screening of baggage handlers. They can immediately put in a situation where the personal belongings of baggage handlers can be checked as they come to work and leave for work.

The level of surveillance has been pretty ordinary. Hopefully they'll get the message now and improve it, and start protecting the gateway into Sydney.

TANYA NOLAN: It appears the frustration with Qantas' baggage handling staff extends to some international airlines who use the carrier's personnel at Australian terminals.

Geoffrey Thomas is a writer with Australian Aviation Magazine, and he says that even Qantas staff are concerned about the level of professionalism of some of their colleagues.

GEOFFREY THOMAS: Well I know personally that some of the baggage handlers themselves have expressed that concern to me that their colleagues are letting them down. And other airline executives have actually spoken to me and say they are considering transferring the sub-contract work they give to Qantas to other operators like Skystar.

TANYA NOLAN: Mr Thomas says some of the more recent concern has surrounded an incident at Sydney Airport last month where a baggage handler was sacked for taking a costume from a pbuttenger's luggage.

GEOFFREY THOMAS: The cost is one issue. The speed at which the bags are delivered to the carousels is another issue. And the antics of the baggage handlers with the drug smuggling allegations are disturbing, but one of the more disturbing things they say for them was the baggage handler who donned that pbuttenger's camel costume and paraded round the tarmac with it.

And they say to me, well Qantas might have to put up with that, but we don't.

TANYA NOLAN: Many aviation specialists are speculating that it's only a matter of time before Qantas uses contractors for its baggage handling services.