Anderson clueless on rail security

Australia’s major rail union rebuked Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson for his remarks yesterday that the Labor rail security package was irrelevant.

Labor Leader Mark Latham had earlier announced a $30 million initiative to upgrade rail security measures around the country, including better surveillance systems, bollards and fences, and detector dogs.

Rail Tram & Bus Union National Secretary Roger Jowett welcomed the Latham initiative, which follows a campaign by the union for government action after the horrific Madrid train bombing in March this year.

"John Anderson, by rejecting this rail security initiative with a one line comment, is just playing politics with people's lives in the most hypocritical way," said Roger Jowett. "The Howard government goes high-profile about its strength on national security, but it has done nothing so far in the mass transit area, and our members in the urban rail, tram and bus systems of Australia are very concerned.

"On June 4 this year, the RTBU took part in a counter-terrorism workshop in Melbourne, opened by the Victorian Transport Minister Peter Batchelor, and attended by Connex, Yarra Trams, V/Line, and ASIO, senior Victorian police and security experts from Europe. The security officers made it clear that a terrorist threat exists for Australia's mass transit systems.

"John Anderson should find out what ASIO and the Federal Police think about rail security, and his government should endorse the Labor initiative," said Roger Jowett.
The RTBU insists that its officers and members be consulted in the development of the new rail security plan, and that the new measures do not undermine workers' union and civil rights.