Legislation to mitigate threats to maritime and aviation security will be examined by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security as it starts a review of the Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia’s Transport Sector) Bill 2024.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 23 January 2025

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. For further information or to make a submission, visit aph.gov.au/pjcis Media enquiries PJCIS Chair Senator Raff Ciccone, via Giulio Di Giorgio 0422 622 760 giulio.digiorgio@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security 02 6277 2360 pjcis@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.