Australia's government said Tuesday that it will upgrade airport security around the country and increase police powers in response to an alleged attempt to smuggle an improvised explosive device aboard a flight out of Sydney last year. The government will spend 294 million Australian dollars ($222 million) on improving security equipment and staffing levels at all major city airports plus 13 regional airports, government ministers said. The alleged plot wasn't discovered until weeks later, but two Sydney men were eventually charged with planning a terrorist act. Under the upgrade, body scanners and advanced X-ray equipment will be rolled out across Australian airports. Police can only demand to see people's identity documents at airports under certain conditions, a restriction that Dutton described as an absurdity.

Source: ABC News May 15, 2018 02:55 UTC