By Fiona Wade, Canberra Correspondent
The 2018 Australian Federal Budget was never going to be a dazzler. And true to the predictions of many political pundits, it was indeed targeted towards relieving some of the pressures on middle Australia. With government’s focus clearing towards the next election, it really is no wonder that tax cuts and aged care has taken centre stage of the post Budget rhetoric.
On national security, Government has been decidedly quiet. Maybe it’s because this year’s Budget was a bit light on comparatively speaking. That said, a handy $294 million has been ear-marked to: “strengthen security at airports, international mail centres and air cargo facilities over four years as part of new initiatives.”
These measures are a direct result, according to Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton, of the planned terror attacks thwarted by the authorities last year, which were unprecedented, sophisticated and represented a significant change in the national security environment.
“These terrorist plots showed a very real and disturbing danger,” Mr Dutton said in his 2018 Budget media release.
“The Government and industry responded immediately to disrupt and contain the threat, increasing law enforcement and strengthening security screening”, he said.
Airports, a preferred target for terrorists, are often considered soft targets, with many security experts, pilots and unions warning that regional airports are the most vulnerable. This Budget aims to alleviate fears that regional airports are the ‘weak link’ in the country’s security with over 50 million specially for upgrading security in regional airports…Click here to read full article.
