Border force ‘ stands ready’

BORDER Force could establish customs arrangements to process international travellers at Hobart Airport in a matter of “days” if a decision is made to launch overseas flights for Tasmania.

But nobody has asked. Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram has indicated border force could quickly set up facilities at the airport if a travel bubble between New Zealand and Tasmania was launched.

He said ABF already had officers in Tasmania or would move officers from Victoria to Hobart if the airport was given the green light to accept international flights.

“At the moment of course there is no instructional guidance from government that we should do so,” he told Eric Abetz during a Senate Estimates hearing.

“But just to let you know we stand ready.”

Mr Outram said a line for processing arrivals, a smart gate, an area for bag examination and a facility to detain or interview “potential unlawful arrivals into Australia” were needed.

But he added much of the “groundwork” for the logistics had already been completed by the Department of Infrastructure.

“We can move pretty quickly,” he said. “I would imagine we could do it within days, rather than months.”

Hobart Airport chief operating officer and acting CEO Matt Cocker said work was continuing with the state and federal governments to understand exactly what direct flights to New Zealand would look like.

“A lot of things do need to happen to ensure that those flights do occur, but we’re working very, very hard,” he said.

Premier Peter Gutwein said on Monday he expected an arrangement for flights from New Zealand sometime early in the New Year with upgrades to the airport to take eight to 10 weeks. “My understanding is it’s getting very close to a decision being made.

“There have been discussions with the federal government late last week and even today as I understand so I believe we are getting very close.”

The latest update to the implementation of the City Deal indicates that the promised establishment of border services, including immigration, customs and biosecurity at the airport are “on hold”.

Labor’s Julie Collins said it was time for the federal government to act.

“After much fanfare and many photo- ops we are still no closer to learning when the Morrison government will put in the border services necessary to enable international flights into Hobart.”