Legislation to mitigate threats to maritime and aviation security will be examined by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) as it starts a review today of the Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia's Transport Sector) Bill 2024.
The Bill seeks amendments to the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 (ATSA) and the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 (MTOFSA).
Committee Chair, Senator Raff Ciccone, said these laws were introduced when terrorism was the biggest danger to our transport critical infrastructure, but it's time to also consider managing other threats.
'The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities with supply chains. Malicious cyber activity can bring airports to a halt. This inquiry is an important opportunity to make sure any changes to ATSA and MTOFSA help government and industry keep our seas and skies safe, secure, and resilient,' Senator Ciccone said.
'The Committee looks forward to hearing from a range of stakeholders to better understand the implications of the Bill's proposed amendments, before reporting to Parliament with our views and recommendations on this important legislation,' he added.
Submissions to the inquiry are invited by 13 February 2025.
