Accountability in Aviation
Accountability in Aviation Security
1. Introduction
On September 11, 2001 the world watched as nearly 3,000 people were killed from a coordinated terrorist attack involving four passenger jets. Aviation security became a heightened focus with the Australian Government committing to extensive review to ensure safe travel for the Australian public. This paper will examine political accountability in relation to aviation security to determine what, if any improvements have been made. A case study into Australian Airport Security (Whelan & Palmer 2006) is used as a reference to support the argument put forward.
Accountability can be defined as being called to account for ones actions Merriam-Webster (2006). Political accountability is the accountability of the government of the day to deliver the expectations of the elected people. Accountability where a government service is delivered by private industry forms the primary focus of this paper.
Initial discussion will explore the likelihood of terrorist activity in Australia. The 2005 Wheeler Report will be used as a framework to review the practical application of a number of aspects of aviation security accountability. These include partnership, personnel and process. Analysis of these applications will demonstrate vulnerabilities in aviation security when mixing government and non government players. This leads into discussion whether there are sufficient accounting practices to support proper accountability. Evidence provided will reinforce the position that government has not fully and effectively implemented Wheeler’s recommendations with intentions driven by political gain not accountability.
2. Is Australia a Terrorist Target?
Al-Qaeda and associated groups target sites of “Critical Infrastructure” (ASIO 2003 cited in Whelan & Palmer 2006:5) to maximise the impact of terrorist activity. While the definition of critical infrastructure may differ depending on the
1. Introduction
On September 11, 2001 the world watched as nearly 3,000 people were killed from a coordinated terrorist attack involving four passenger jets. Aviation security became a heightened focus with the Australian Government committing to extensive review to ensure safe travel for the Australian public. This paper will examine political accountability in relation to aviation security to determine what, if any improvements have been made. A case study into Australian Airport Security (Whelan & Palmer 2006) is used as a reference to support the argument put forward.
Accountability can be defined as being called to account for ones actions Merriam-Webster (2006). Political accountability is the accountability of the government of the day to deliver the expectations of the elected people. Accountability where a government service is delivered by private industry forms the primary focus of this paper.
Initial discussion will explore the likelihood of terrorist activity in Australia. The 2005 Wheeler Report will be used as a framework to review the practical application of a number of aspects of aviation security accountability. These include partnership, personnel and process. Analysis of these applications will demonstrate vulnerabilities in aviation security when mixing government and non government players. This leads into discussion whether there are sufficient accounting practices to support proper accountability. Evidence provided will reinforce the position that government has not fully and effectively implemented Wheeler’s recommendations with intentions driven by political gain not accountability.
2. Is Australia a Terrorist Target?
Al-Qaeda and associated groups target sites of “Critical Infrastructure” (ASIO 2003 cited in Whelan & Palmer 2006:5) to maximise the impact of terrorist activity. While the definition of critical infrastructure may differ depending on the