Baggage handlers face inquiry Jonathan Porter and Martin Chulov June 01, 2005 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,15472435%255E2 702,00.html THE Australian Crime Commission is to hold a royal commission-style probe into corrupt baggage handlers and other workers in the nation's airports, federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison said. Senator Ellison yesterday called for an "urgent and detailed" briefing after he and Transport Minister John Anderson admitted they had not seen a damning report detailing rampant corruption at Sydney airport until it appeared yesterday in The Australian. He had also asked the ACC, which has the same powers as a royal commission, to "conduct a national intelligence investigation in relation to criminal activity at our major airports". The report by Australian Customs detailed a situation of near anarchy at the airport, with corrupt baggage handlers, many with criminal convictions, and Muslim extremists infiltrating airport security. The federal Government, Qantas and Sydney airport chief executive Max Moore-Wilton yesterday all denied hearing of the report until it was detailed in The Australian. <http://adserver.news.com.au/event.ng/Type=click&FlightID=8956&AdID=14763&Ta rgetID=3922&Redirect=http:/www.careerone.com.au/health/> <http://adserver.news.com.au/event.ng/Type=click&FlightID=8956&AdID=14763&Ta rgetID=3922&Redirect=http:/www.careerone.com.au/health/> <http://adserver.news.com.au/click.ng/Params.richmedia=yes&site=theaustralia n§ion=national&adsize=300x250&pagepos=1> Senator Ellison said provisions were "adequate" and Mr Anderson said there were no terrorists working at any of the nation's airports. "What we can be assured of is that we have a high degree of aviation security in this country and airport security and the travelling Australian public should not panic," he said. Mr Anderson said background checks had been carried out on everyone employed at airports and 65,000 airport security cards had been "reissued" to workers. Mr Anderson said it was an internal, speculative report that was intended only for Customs. "We wanted to make certain that we didn't have people who might have been ... engaged in politically motivated violence working in our airports," he told parliament. "I want to assure the house if there was even a suggestion of a tendency to believe in motivated violence, they haven't got their card, they're not going anywhere near airports." Mr Anderson also defended the secondment of transport security supremo Mick Palmer to head a probe into the Cornelia Rau bungle. "He was put there as a belts and braces addition on my suggestion so that we would have a person to take up investigation if, God forbid, we have a terrorism incident in Australia," he said. As the Government scrambled for cover, the Opposition rushed to make political capital of the report. ALP homeland security spokesman Robert McClelland criticised the Prime Minister for relieving Mr Palmer of his duties. "(The report) is suggesting security breaches that could be potentially exploited by terrorists and they're putting out a political bushfire in the form of the Rau inquiry," he said. NSW Premier Bob Carr called on the federal Government to boost security at the airport. "I want those things properly investigated," Mr Carr said. "It's up to the federal authorities -- the AFP, Customs -- to increase security checks on the baggage handlers, the air crew and other staff." Qantas head of security Geoffrey Askew said the report was only to "highlight potential risks". Transport Workers Union NSW secretary Tony Sheldon called on the federal Government to co-ordinate all airport security and for all security staff to be checked by ASIO. 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