Federal biosecurity investment upgrades Gold Coast Airport screening capacity

The Australian Border Force will significantly upgrade its presence at Gold Coast Airport, with the federal government committing $28 million to additional biosecurity officers, advanced scanning technology, and facility upgrades to handle the surging international passenger volumes driven by new direct routes and the upcoming 2032 Olympics.

Gold Coast Airport processed 1.8 million international passengers in the past year, its highest ever figure, with new direct services to Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand adding substantially to the passenger mix previously dominated by Pacific Island routes. The airport is forecasting 3 million annual international passengers by 2030 as the Olympics approach and additional routes are established.

The biosecurity upgrade includes new CT baggage scanning systems capable of detecting biosecurity threats with greater accuracy than existing X-ray technology, additional agriculture detector dogs for the baggage hall, and a new passenger secondary screening room that meets the capacity required for the projected growth in international arrivals.

ABF Commissioner Michael Outram said Gold Coast Airport presented a unique biosecurity challenge as a predominantly leisure-oriented international gateway, with arriving passengers typically carrying food items and organic materials at higher rates than business-oriented airports. "Beach holiday travellers come back with mangoes, dried flowers, and all manner of things from the countries they've visited. Our job is to make sure none of it brings a biosecurity risk to Australia," he said.

The upgrades are expected to be operational before the expanded international schedule takes effect, with construction of the new secondary screening facility the longest-lead element of the program.

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