Security

We are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safety and security across our operations.

Security at Sydney Airport underpins our organisation and ensures the confidence of all airport community stakeholders is maintained.

The Safety, Security and Sustainability (SSS) Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its security responsibilities. The SSS Committee Charter sets out its objectives and functions.

The Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 provides a framework to mitigate risk to the Australian public (and the Australian economy) by establishing minimum security requirements for civil aviation in Australia. The current aviation security framework, established through the Act and the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 and administered by the Department of Home Affairs, is designed to deter, detect and prevent acts of unlawful interference.

The General Manager, Operations has organisational responsibility for security.

Sydney Airport engages a private security service provider under contract to perform services including passenger and checked baggage screening, control room security surveillance, enhanced airside inspection and security patrols.

Australian Federal Police officers are present at Sydney Airport and provides first response to all aviation security incidents and reports of crime within the airport precinct. They provide Counter Terrorist First Response to deter and respond to acts of terrorism and emergency incidents. They also target and investigate crime in the aviation environment and provide a community policing presence at the airport.

Sydney Airport's Transport Security Program sets out how we detect and deter unlawful interference with aviation at Sydney Airport. The objective of this program is to safeguard Sydney Airport's operations, including personnel, assets and infrastructure, against unlawful interference with aviation.

The Airport Services Centre at Sydney Airport is responsible for the issue of Aviation Security Identification Cards (ASICs) and access control cards and privileges to the employees of approximately 900 companies that provide services on Sydney Airport. The ASIC scheme is a layer of security that ensures that only people who have been background checked to a certain level are permitted to be in the secure areas of airports without supervision. All persons at the airport requiring unescorted access to security sensitive areas are required under government regulations to have an ASIC. Applicants must undertake and pass a computer-based security awareness test at ID and Access Services prior to card issue. This test is based on the Sydney Airport Conditions of Use and the Security Awareness Guide.

Sydney Airport’s Security Awareness Guide provides guidance to staff who regularly work in Security Restricted Areas. It sets out the security context, their security responsibilities and how to apply them in their workplace. A positive security culture is one of the more important aspects of effective security. Airport employees undertake security awareness training to understand basic airport security measures, their obligations and what they are expected to do and how to report suspicious activity, criminal activity or security breaches.

Airlines and other organisations with a Sydney Airport operational need are issued the Sydney Airport Aviation Industry Participant (AIP) Security Guide to provide information needed to operate on and around the airport, and to be prepared in the event of a security emergency or incident.