The Australian government has rejected claims that cargo is being loaded onto passenger planes without inspection. Federal Transport Minister Mark Vaile said the government has implemented most of the recommendations made byaviation expert Sir John Wheeler.

The 2005 Wheeler report said cargo baggage on domestic and international passenger fl ights should be checked for explosives and contraband. Vaile says since 2001, the government has spent $1.2 billion on upgrading airport security but he says while all cargo on international fl ights is inspected, screening fordomestic and regional fl ights is still being rolled out.

"You do this on the basis of advice on risk and of course, international fl ights are the highest risk, jet fl ights are a higher risk than regional operations so we are progressively moving through the inspection of cargo that’s in the hull of these aircraft," he said.