Customs cuts ‘could leave ports exposed’

July 26th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

Job cuts in the nation’s Customs and Border Protection Service could leave some ports open to drug and gun smugglers, unions warn.

Thirty-seven frontline Customs staff will lose their jobs across 14 district offices by the end of the year, the border protection agency has confirmed.

A further seven Customs officers from these districts will be transferred to major ports.

Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Thursday Island, Port Hedland, Broome and Dampier are among the offices to be downsized.

The cuts were flagged by Customs in June but weren’t finalised until this month.

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) says the job losses will compromise border protection in the regions.

CPSU secretary Nadine Flood says the offices targeted may be small, but they’re vitally important.

She used Mackay as an example, saying it was a major port which experienced many drug busts last year.

In one, 87kg of cocaine was netted, she said.

Three years ago the office had 14 staff who used to board 40 ships per month, Ms Flood said.

“Today, the Mackay office has less than 10 staff and boards an average of 25 ships per month,” she said in a statement.

“Who knows how many ships will be inspected in the future?”

A Customs spokesman said the job cuts were necessary “in order to live within our budget”.

Border protection wouldn’t be compromised, he said.

“We are constantly reviewing the risk to the border across our operations and will retain the ability to quickly move officers back into these areas.”