Minister media release
New x-ray units to see through criminals - 28 June 2010
The Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor today announced that two new mobile x-ray units are now in action to help stop illegal goods getting into Australia.
Mr O’Connor today visited Fiat Australia’s Sydney headquarters to see the new mobile x-ray units in action and speak with Customs and Border Protection staff about their good work.
“Our Customs and Border Protection officers are working hard every day to secure our borders and protect Australians by stopping illegal items entering our country,” Mr O’Connor said.
“These new mobile x-ray units will help them do their jobs more efficiently and thoroughly, by detecting illegal drugs, firearms and weapons that offenders may seek to conceal.”
Fiat Australia manufactured the two vehicles in which the x-ray equipment is mounted.
“These x-ray units are predominantly used to scan air cargo, but because they are vehicle mounted they can also be easily deployed to other border protection environments.
“In the past, the units have been used to successfully detect narcotics brought into Australia by ship crews and passengers and find undeclared currency and prescription drugs in outgoing baggage,” Mr O’Connor said.
The $390,000 mobile x-ray units will join the fleet of sixteen units in operation around Australia.
“The new units will help inspect and examine about 1.5 million air cargo consignments each year and make Australia a safer place for all of us to live,” he said.
“The units can also be deployed for joint agency operations with state and federal law enforcement authorities – further strengthening our co-operative approach to border protection.”
The new mobile x-ray units use a fuel efficient diesel engine manufactured to the latest low-emission standards. The vehicles have improved safety features and enhanced x-ray capability compared to previous models.
The delivery and operation of these two new units builds on other technology investments for Customs and Border Protection this financial year, including the replacement of pallet x-ray units in Sydney and Melbourne, deployment of additional trace detection technologies and the deployment of upgraded fume detection units to container examination facilities in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Media Adviser: Jayne Stinson 0458 547 512 jayne.stinson@ag.gov.au