Amid all the latest hoo-ha about security at Sydney Airport a couple of points stand out.
Since being privatised, no-one seems to be accountable for the security problems. The airport and its Macquarie Bank controllers seem to be a law unto themselves, both worried about being left out of the loop, subject to federal laws though not state laws, and able to explain away any lapse in security as someone else's problem.
But equally, Qantas seems to have been getting away with its obvious holes in security and employment procedures for baggage handlers, and now a senior security officer who was "mentioned adversely" in the 1996 Police Royal Commission in NSW.
This story from The Sydney Morning Herald's Kate McClymont (see article below), details the saga surrounding the former Qantas security manager and former senior NSW police detective, Alan Conell. It's not very encouraging that background security checks failed to throw up any question marks. The defence from Qantas was that he wasn't charged with any offence:
Qantas security head Geoff Askew yesterday told The Herald that the airline had not been aware of the adverse comments about Mr Conwell during the 1996 police royal commission.
Most of NSW police appeared at that royal commission. They said, "You've probably been a naughty boy," but they never charged him, Mr Askew said.
Mr Askew said that Mr Conwell had passed security checks by ASIO and the Federal Police because he had not been convicted of any crime.What's that, ASIO did a background check, and found nothing? So what was ASIO doing in its background check and what confidence does it give the rest of us that ASIO could not find out that this man was a former policeman? And why didn't ASIO find out why he left the police and dig up the proceedings of the Wood Royal Commission to find out his links (and those of his father) with Michael Hurley, long-time Sydney criminal now on the run over the cocaine importing claims? -----------------------------------------
Ex-manager accused of list leaks
By Kate McClymont - (smh.com.au) June 3, 2005
The Qantas security manager sacked for his association with fugitive Michael Hurley may have had access to leaked confidential information about passenger alert lists. Disgraced former drug detective Alan Conwell was sacked by Qantas on May 20 after the airline learned of his association with Hurley.
An international search is under way for Hurley and his associate Les Mara over allegations they used Qantas baggage handlers to smuggle 10 kilograms of cocaine on October 8 last year.
Qantas security head Geoff Askew yesterday told the Herald that the airline had not been aware of the adverse comments about Mr Conwell during the 1996 police royal commission.
"Most of NSW police appeared at that royal commission. They said, 'You've probably been a naughty boy,' but they never charged him," Mr Askew said.
Mr Askew said that Mr Conwell had passed security checks by ASIO and the Federal Police because he had not been convicted of any crime.
"Once we ascertained his association with Hurley that obviously was inappropriate for someone in his position at Qantas … we acted straight away and terminated his contract," he said.
The airline was alerted to Mr Conwell's association to Hurley by the NSW Crime Commission.
Last night Channel Ten news alleged that Mr Conwell may have been responsible for leaked information about overseas passengers who were on a customs watch list.
The Herald reported yesterday that witnesses had been questioned during police royal commission hearings about whether they knew of any association between Mr Conwell, who was also adversely mentioned at the police royal commission, and Hurley.
In evidence before the 1996 police royal commission, Conwell was heard on phone intercepts trying to help Norm Beves, who had gone to jail with Hurley over a jewellery theft.
Surveillance videos also showed Beves meeting Conwell, who was then with the Drug Enforcement Agency. Conwell denied he was aiding Beves to avoid arrest over theft ofperfume.
In 1990 Hurley, Beves, Les Mara and others were the targets of the National Crime Authority's Operation Javelin, which resulted in Hurley being found guilty of fraud.
According to an officer who worked on that matter, both Mt Conwell and his father, Keith, knew Hurley. The officer told the Herald that Keith, then head of the breaking squad and who was also adversely mentioned at the police royal commission, was regularly seen with Hurley and regularly in contact with him.
Meanwhile, Qantas plans to talk today with a current baggage handler Greg Cusack who was a former workmate and friend of Beves.
