Exemption from Displaying an Aviation Security Identification Card in a Secure Area

Overview

The NTC-21002 Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005, enacted by the Australian Government, address the need for stringent security measures within aviation transport while providing flexibility for specific events. This regulation is a legislative instrument made under the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004, and it aims to ensure the safety and security of aviation transport while balancing operational needs during special events. The policy objective is to maintain high security standards while allowing for practical adjustments for authorised events, ensuring that security protocols are not compromised. In this instance, the exemption notice issued by Jaran Blethyn, a Delegate of the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, allows approved personnel and guests of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation Gold Dinner event to move within designated secure areas of Sydney Airport without displaying an Aviation Security Identification Card, subject to strict monitoring and verification conditions to uphold security.

Scope and Application

The NTC-21002 Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 Exemption Notice applies specifically to event organisers, volunteers, and invited guests of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation Gold Dinner event who have been approved by Sydney Airport Corporation Limited. This exemption pertains to the requirement of displaying an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) in the secure area of Sydney Airport. It allows these approved individuals to move along a designated transit route between Gates 20 and 25 and the special event zone (SEZ) without the need to display an ASIC. The exemption is valid for certain times, namely from 8 am to 4 pm on Monday 7 June 2021 and from 5 am on Tuesday 8 June 2021 to 7 am on Saturday 12 June 2021 for persons entering via Gate 20, and on Thursday 10 June 2021 for persons arriving via Gate 25. The exemption is subject to stringent conditions to ensure security, including reconciliation of names against an approved list, movement along a specified route, and continuous monitoring by contracted airport security staff.

Key Provisions

This notice, made by Jaran Blethyn, Assistant Director of Transport Security Operations at the Department of Home Affairs, provides an exemption from the requirement to display an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) in the secure area of Sydney Airport for certain individuals during specific times. This exemption applies to event organisers, volunteers, and invited guests of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation Gold Dinner event who have been approved by Sydney Airport Corporation Limited. These individuals are exempted from showing an ASIC when they move along the designated transit route between Gates 20 and 25 and the special event zone (SEZ) established in notice NTC-21001. The exemption is contingent on several conditions. For event organisers moving between Gate 20 and the SEZ from 7 to 12 June, all individuals must have their names checked against an approved list by contracted airport security staff before entering the SEZ. Additionally, they must travel by foot along the specified transit route, and their movement must be continuously monitored by security staff positioned at Gate 20 and the SEZ access point. For guests arriving at the SEZ via Gate 25 on 10 June, they must register at the International Terminal check-in counter G, have their names checked against an approved guest list by event organisers or security staff, and receive an event ticket to present to security staff before boarding buses at Gate 25. These buses, driven by Sydney Airport staff displaying a valid ASIC, will transport guests directly to the SEZ. The obligations imposed by this notice are primarily on the event organisers and Sydney Airport Corporation Limited. Event organisers must ensure that all individuals moving between Gate 20 and the SEZ have their names checked against an approved list and must supervise their movement. They must also ensure that buses transporting guests from Gate 25 to the SEZ are driven by staff displaying a valid ASIC. Sydney Airport Corporation Limited, as the entity providing the exemption, must ensure that all conditions are met and that security measures are adequately enforced. Failure to comply with the conditions outlined in this notice can result in serious consequences. While the notice does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, breaches of the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 or the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 generally carry significant penalties. These can include substantial fines and imprisonment. Specifically, under the Act, an individual who contravenes a provision can face a fine of up to 5,000 penalty units or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, for a serious offence. For lesser offences, the fine can be up to 1,000 penalty units or imprisonment for up to two years, or both. These penalties underscore the importance of adhering to the conditions set forth in the exemption notice.