Paul,

Yes, indeedy...but Heffernan did that because the govt had cut security at Parliament House in the budget....to save a few $$$.

They cut it and for months it was like that...mind you not a peep out of Lambie, Christensen or Bernadi.

That was all before Credlin and Co came up with their wonderful "let's get some votes" agenda of demonising Muslims and tying it to IS.

Brilliant!

(Jayb - go talk to a lamppost :)

I was going through the electronic screening device at Sydney Airport when all he "bells and whistles" went off, I was wearing a back support belt that had metal stiffeners in it.

Fat men appeared, at the run, all festooned with heavy belts dripping with (in)appropriate gear, shouting as they closed in "Don't move!, Don't move!!"

My wife was embarrassed but I wasn't; in fact I thought that it was hilarious.

When the bikies rioted, and one man was killed, at he same Airport the Security people, fat or slim were no where to be seen.

Is Mise, was it like the movie 'Mall Cop'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPeo44RPySc

Poirot, if Australia decides to ban the Burka (etc) as did France. How do you think the mossies would go taking Australia to the Human Rights Commission? The Lamp post told me to give you a big cuddle.

I must admit FOXY, you do exhibit a rather charitable disposition towards those security people who required you to remove your fur hat. I must admit as do I. The poor buggers are so poorly trained, as are their Trainers, who are also similarly (poorly) trained. Poorly remunerated, and tasked with an excessively repetitive, and very dull, tedious job.

I understand the hourly pay rate is atrocious, many relying on copious amounts of overtime, to even earn a basic living wage.

The job is, so tedious, and so very boring, it's little wonder they try to extend their authority a bit, by picking an easy mark ? A mark such as your good-self (a lady), and unwarrantably hassle them. What's needed with these important, but highly monotonous jobs, is some legitimate 'Job Enrichment'. Permitting the operatives a bit of real pride in their work ?

Simply put, when these security people fail in their allotted task, they're dismissed. Though their failure, could have a catastrophic effect on us all, the public !

It isn't only about security.

Although for the benefit of the ignorant and frivolous it should be mentioned that some devices will not register on a metal detector and can be in small flexible packages, liquid in plastic bags for instance, as well. Has anyone ever wondered at the list of non permissible items on an international flight, or then stopped to reflect that the risk is not treated entirely, not by any stretch of the imagination?

Someone mentioned a grandstanding politician who took a dummy pipe bomb into the Parliament. He should have been censured by the Parliament, removed and charged by police and given a rest in a gaol. One jackass gone from the House.