Philip Ruddock says Australia has some of the highest security standards in the world.
(File photo). ABC News Online
Aust airports on heightened level of vigilance: Ruddock
Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says since the terrorism threat was uncovered in the United Kingdom, security at Australian airports has been tightened.
Police in the UK say they have foiled a plan to detonate explosive devices smuggled onto aircraft in hand luggage.
However, Prime Minister John Howard says Australia's security level has not been lifted yet.
Mr Ruddock says the Government has invested significantly in aviation security and Australia has some of the highest security standards in the world.
The Attorney-General has told AM security authorities at airports are working with a heightened level of vigilance.
"Clearly Australian security authorities at airports will work with a heightened level of vigilance," he said.
"We have airport police commanders at key airports and they are working with state and territory police.
"We do have screening of passenger luggage now and I think this incident reminds us to be vigilant in the face of [a] potential terrorism threat."
Alert level
Mr Howard has told Southern Cross radio he has seen the intelligence assessments from Britain and the threat is as every bit as serious as represented by the British Government.
He says he has never given any guarantees that Australia is immune from terrorism attacks, but at this stage the alert level here has not been changed.
"It's under review, we've decided at the moment not to lift it because the threat was to flights bound for the United States," he said.
"But if there is any need to lift the alert level in the future that action will be taken."
Labor's foreign affairs spokesman, Kevin Rudd, has questioned the level of security at Australian airports.
He says Australia has to adopt a hardline response, particularly when it comes to airport security.
He says that includes introducing a range of security measures including X-raying all baggage.
"This is one of the things that has to happen here, these are very practical measure for airports, but no one is assuming that the Australian Government can externally control the Al Qaeda threat, that's just unreasonable," he said.
Australia vulnerable
Meanwhile Opposition Leader Kim Beazley has warned the bomb plot in London shows Australia is vulnerable to a terrorist attack and says he wants Australian troops to focus on security threats in this region instead of in the Middle East.
He says Australia is bogged down in a civil war in Iraq and that Australian troops should be withdrawn immediately.
He believes what is happening in London shows Australia is also at risk.
"It does show that the war with fundamentalist terror is real and there are continuing incidents and continuing threats," he said.
The Opposition Leader claims Iraq is distracting the Howard Government from security threats closer to home.