QLD:Brisbane airport doesn't expect delays

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2011
QLD:Brisbane airport doesn't expect delays

By Darren Cartwright

BRISBANE, Aug 19 AAP - Strike action by quarantine staff at Brisbane International
Airport has caused minimal disruption to passengers, says an airport spokeswoman.

Quarantine staff walked off the job for four hours from 6am (AEST) on Friday over a pay dispute.

The action had been flagged for a week with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries, according to Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) spokeswoman Nadine
Flood.

Brisbane Airport Corporation spokeswoman Rebecca Masci said everything went "smoothly"

during the morning peak hour.

"Everything is running normally," Ms Masci said.

"The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service has put on additional staff to make sure
that passengers are all processed and facilitated as normal.

"We are through peak hour, so we don't expect any delays from here."

But Ms Flood warned anyone heading to Brisbane international airport should be patient
if they are picking up a passenger or if they are departing.

"There will be some significant effects but the extent of that depends on what contingency
plans the government has in place," Ms Flood told AAP.

"Quarantine is the slowest part for incoming passengers."

Ms Flood said the federal government's three per cent pay cap on public sector agreements
prevented departments from entering "genuine" negotiations with staff.

She said the strike would impact on cargo inspections, the release of imported goods
and X-ray screening of international mail.

There are 158 quarantine staff at Brisbane Airport.

"We are expecting a series of industrial actions unless we see negotiations recommence,"

Ms Flood said.

AAP dac/gd/nb

KEYWORD: QUARANTINE QLD

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