Alexander Heights woman fined $1000 for using her Perth Airport security ID card to help family onto flight

A catering employee who used her Perth Airport security identification card so she could usher her family onto a Singapore bound flight has been fined $1000. The 39-year-old Alexander Heights woman was not rostered to work at Perth Airport on February 18 but used her card to gain access to more than one secure area so she could make her way to the departures hall inside the international terminal. Australian Federal Police said once the woman was inside she showed her identification to airline staff, boarded the plane with family members and helped them to their seats. When she exited the plane, airport staff stopped her and called the AFP. Her security privileges were then suspended. She appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to one count of entry to secure area to be for lawful purposes only, contrary to section 3.11(1) of the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 (Commonwealth). She was fined $1000. AFP Superintendent Peter Hatch said workers must abide by airport rules and regulations, just like travellers and visitors to the Perth precinct. “The AFP and its partners enforce strict protocols at the airport to keep all staff, travellers and visitors to the precinct safe,” Supt Hatch said. “Airport employees are entrusted with privileged access to certain secure areas and anyone caught exploiting that trust for personal reasons, can face prosecution.”