The Australian government last week passed new legislation aimed at increasing inbound security measures. 

Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure and Transportation Darren Chester said that providing the public with safe and secure air travel is a priority for this government. He went on to say that Australia is aware that the US and the UK have recently changed their temporary additional security measures for certain flights from several Middle East and North African countries. 

The Australian government has stressed there is no specific threat to the country, and that the move is simply in line with what the US and the UK have done. That means people travelling from Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai will be subject to random explosive trace detection screening. 

The main difference with Australia’s new security measures is that there is no ban on electronic devices used in cabins on passenger flights. 

Last month, the US and UK governments announced temporary bans on bringing laptops, iPads, cameras and other electronic devices in luggage on certain non-stop flights.