FED: Top security man says threat to aviation overstated

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2003
FED: Top security man says threat to aviation overstated

SYDNEY, Dec 27 AAP - The head of one of Australia's biggest security firms says the
federal government has overstated the terrorist threat to aircraft in Australia at the
expense of focusing on "easier targets" such as public transport and shopping centres.

Executive director of Chubb Security personnel Don MacKinnon told a federal parliamentary
committee conducting a review of aviation security that the response had been disproportionate
to the risk, The Sydney Morning Herald reported today.

Mr McKinnon questioned the amount of government funding going to security programs.

He said aviation had been overly singled out as a risk, with trains much easier to target.

The comments came as the government and Qantas finalised details of a massive increase
in the air marshals program.

AAP kd/ao

KEYWORD: TERROR SECURITY

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