Ridiculous security procedures travelling to Australia

[browski]

The ATO springs to mind?? Who in the ATO is driving the security procedures of foreign airports to ensure that a couple of half-bit Australian duty-free stores sell a few extra bottles of DUTY FREE alcohol. ? Skype calls?? WTF?? As usual, mountains will be constructed and moved to justify this conspiracy theory.

Once again, it is not a conspiracy, just regular, run-of-the-mill stuff. Sorry to shatter your world view, but that does not make it conspiracy. You sound like the guys that were incredulous that an airline would flout the Sydney curfew laws because it was economically beneficial to do so.

By the way, Skype and VOIP calls cost Governmemt Telco's big bikkies.

Don't sweat it, or get down on yourself though; you'll like it out here in the asylum once you get used to it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

G'day...

I know this has been the case for a fair while now, but I hadn't flown in quite a while, due to a change in jobs, until I had a trip to China over the weekend just gone. I flew back to Brisbane on Tuesday night from HKG, and couldn't help but be a little miffed at the absurdity and paranoia that is the boarding procedure for flights to Australia. They had pretty much closed off one arm of the terminal (the gate 60-71 end) and dedicated it to Australian flights. There were bag searches and passport checks, and no-one else was allowed into the area. Not to mention that I wasn't allowed to purchase any duty free for the flight either, so forced to pay Brisbane duty free prices.

What's going on? Why the paranoia from the Australian government? There wasn't the same arrangement for flights to the US or Europe, just the standard boarding gate, so why are we special?

Dan.

Interesting. This is the first i have heard of a separate part of the terminal for AU flights... all the ones I have taken previously have just departed from regular gates (QF from G26 or G16 for example). It's also going to make a log ride to the departure gates from the F/J lounges if they persist in this...

Liquids - not allowed exHKG to AU. The final bag search (done down the pier) takes those away. Not sure however how they treat the sealed tamper proof bags? (I know you can take those past security for other flights, for example AU-HK-China, I went through security no problems with a tamper proof bag purchased in AU).

 

[juddles]

...it is not a conspiracy, just regular, run-of-the-mill stuff..........

I do not believe it would be a lawful process for the ATO, under the influence of ¨lobbyists¨, to improve DF turnover by causing to be enacted inappropriate security processes. Which is what I understand you and others are insinuating. Such a process would be a conspiracy by definition.

Which is why I asked for anyone who could to explain to me how this is all meant to work, without retreating into the traditional ¨The Guvment¨ stuff.

 

[Austman]

Liquids - not allowed exHKG to AU. The final bag search (done down the pier) takes those away. Not sure however how they treat the sealed tamper proof bags? (I know you can take those past security for other flights, for example AU-HK-China, I went through security no problems with a tamper proof bag purchased in AU).

They are not permitted. Delivery to the gate unless from an exempted country.

 

[A330]

I flew HKG-SYD 2 weeks ago with QF and it was in the same part of the terminal as all other flights (an AF flight was 3-4 gates away and a KA flight was at the next gate).

The security check for liquids is done where the aerobridge joins the terminal, but if you buy duty free at HKG airport it can be delivered to the gate. Duty free from a previous airport is confiscated, but they didn't do a very thorough search when I was there.

 

[MatF]

I don't know about DF and conspiracy theories, but I was a bit annoyed when I grabbed a couple of bottles of water for the flight from the lounge (airside) at HKG, to lose them at the aerobridge. I felt a bit naked on the flight with no bottles of water!

 

[whatmeworry]

New scanners to end flight liquid restrictions within a year - World News - Independent.ie

 

[juddles]

New scanners to end flight liquid restrictions within a year - World News - Independent.ie

Per the article the removal of laptops may also vanish. Would be nice!

 

[Alanslegal]

No it's quite simple. Representing the Au duty free companies will be lobbyists who sell spin to the government to allow this wrought to happen. The government is corrupt and if you don't believe me, google Craig Thompson. ...

I am pretty certain that the LAG prohibitions were actually introduced by the then Liberal Government

 

[Rebekkap]

Once again, it is not a conspiracy, just regular, run-of-the-mill stuff. Sorry to shatter your world view, but that does not make it conspiracy. You sound like the guys that were incredulous that an airline would flout the Sydney curfew laws because it was economically beneficial to do so.
By the way, Skype and VOIP calls cost Governmemt Telco's big bikkies.

Don't sweat it, or get down on yourself though; you'll like it out here in the asylum once you get used to it.

This is ludicrous. Point me on the lobbyist register to the lobbyists who are apparently lobbying the ATO on behalf of duty free shops.

Btw, there are no government-owned telcos, so that part of your conspiracy theory falls down too (unless you count NBN Co, who'd be in the business of encouraging rather than discouraging skype etc, and they're not even direvtly controlled by the govt).

You're off the planet if you seriously think that's how government works, even aside from e practical issues with your little conspiracy theory.

 

[browski]

This is ludicrous. Point me on the lobbyist register to the lobbyists who are apparently lobbying the ATO on behalf of duty free shops.

Btw, there are no government-owned telcos, so that part of your conspiracy theory falls down too (unless you count NBN Co, who'd be in the business of encouraging rather than discouraging skype etc, and they're not even direvtly controlled by the govt).

You're off the planet if you seriously think that's how government works, even aside from e practical issues with your little conspiracy theory.

Not a conspiracy, just standard business practice. I am starting to think though that it is a conspiracy that people claim that it is not a conspiracy. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks".

If you read the thread, you'll see we are not referring to Aussie Telcos.

I'd suggest extreme naivety if you believe that sovereign Governments do not (ab)use their powers to both enhance their own revenues, as well as the revenues of their state-based countries.

I submit:

BBC NEWS | Business | Saudi prince 'received arms cash'

and

ASIC to examine banknote scandal

and

UAE Lifts Ban On Skype, Whilst China Locks Down | International Corporate Relocation, Moving to Dubai, UAE, Abu Dhabi | Move One InMotion

So far, "in the case against" nobody has submitted anything other than insults.

 

[juddles]

..... I am starting to think though that it is a conspiracy that people claim that it is not a conspiracy......

No, it is ¨standard business practice¨. Or rather , just commonsense.

 

[Rebekkap]

Not a conspiracy, just standard business practice. I am starting to think though that it is a conspiracy that people claim that it is not a conspiracy.
If you read the thread, you'll see we are not referring to Aussie Telcos.
I submit:
BBC NEWS | Business | Saudi prince 'received arms cash'
and
ASIC to examine banknote scandal
and
UAE Lifts Ban On Skype, Whilst China Locks Down | International Corporate Relocation, Moving to Dubai, UAE, Abu Dhabi | Move One InMotion

So far, "in the case against" nobody has submitted anything other than insults.

Mate, you're starting to sound more than a little paranoid. It's actually quite difficult to come up with "evidence" that there *isn't* a conspiracy. It's like saying the moon landing is faked, and then refusimg to admit it wasn't because none of us can prove someone didn't fly to Arizona.

Suggesting the Saudi Royal family does something so therefore the Australian govt does as well is not exactly apples and apples. Nor was Securency controlled by the Aussie govt. Of course governments do things to protect their interests, like negotiate free trade agreements, and try to tweak the economy so create good conditions for business, but if you honestly think they'd go to all the trouble of getting overseas governments to agree to security conditions just to protect some duty free retailers, then (1) you need to see a doctor because that level of paranoia isn't healthy and (2) you have no understanding of just how complex, costly and time-consuming those sorts of negotiations with foreign countries actually are

 

[Sprucegoose]

CX for example will not even sell you a bottle of water.

I suspect that the government does not care how Australians travelling overseas feel.

I didn't know that CX sold water!!

 

[Happy Trails]

you have no understanding of just how complex, costly and time-consuming those sorts of negotiations with foreign countries actually are

This is true, just ask the Australian Wheat Board.

 

[Sprucegoose]

This is true, just ask the Australian Wheat Board.

Or indeed Securency!!

 

[browski]

Mate, you're starting to sound more than a little paranoid. It's actually quite difficult to come up with "evidence" that there *isn't* a conspiracy. It's like saying the moon landing is faked, and then refusimg to admit it wasn't because none of us can prove someone didn't fly to Arizona.

I know that this is actually moving further off topic, but no-one actually questioned the Moon landing. What was questioned was that the "photos" supplied by NASA were dodgy. So it seemed that even though the US made it to the moon, their actual pictures were of very low quality so they needed to manufacture a few better ones.

Then in some classic spin, the Govt came out and stated that people questioning the Moon Landing were loony.......when in actual fact, people were just pointing out the failings within the photos.

 

[juddles]

I know that this is actually moving further off topic, but no-one actually questioned the Moon landing. What was questioned.....

Each to their own, but in my personal book anyone who has the time, paranoia, etc to actually bother ¨question¨ the moon landings lives in a different universe to me.

 

[juddles]

.... the Govt..

Footnote: anyone who uses that spectacularly all-encompassing term ¨the Govt¨, IMHO, needs help. The use of such illustrates a clinical denial of realities and an ignorance of the complexities of real, every day life.

 

[Maggs]

Hmmm what was the question ?? Duty Free out of Hong Kong. My theory is: two bottles weighing approx 3kgs multiplied by 90% of passengers making a similar purchase, that is a lot of of extra weight = more fuel = less profit. Well something like that anyway.