A security overhaul is needed at Brisbane Airport after the second breach in a fortnight forced management to evacuate a terminal, a union says.
The domestic terminal was brought to a standstill from about 6.30pm (AEST) yesterday after several Qantas passengers walked past security check points without being screened.
Airport management ordered the terminal be evacuated so more than 1000 passengers could be re-processed, causing significant delays.
Some passengers were asked to disemark from planes waiting on the tarmac so they could be re-processed.
It is the second time in a fortnight a security breach at the Qantas end of the terminal has resulted in an evacuation.
Transport Workers' Union (TWU) executive officer Scott Connolly said the latest breach showed the need for an overhaul of airport security.
"Surely, we should be learning from our mistakes. There has been three or four other breaches so far this year and it is still going on," he said.
"We are concerned about our many hundreds of members in direct vicinity of that domestic (terminal), thousands more that work within a couple of kilometres, let alone the travelling public."
Mr Connolly said the current arrangements, which gave security providers some discretion on how to implement their responsibilities, was unacceptable.
"There needs to be a single agency responsible not only for setting a standard but also for ensuring that standard is maintained," he said.
Qantas security general manager Jeff Askew said the company was embarrassed by the recent incidents, and apologised for the inconvenience.
The public should have confidence in Qantas' security.
"I think they do, and they should have, because we are probably one of the most respectful airlines and we put more effort into safety and security than most," he told ABC Radio.
"There can never be any guarantees in life ... but what I can say is that I will work with my team and ... the Office of Transport Security to make sure that we reduce the likelihood of this ever happening again."
He said the company was renegotiating its contract with security provider ISS.
Office for Transport Security executive director Paul Retter said he was disappointed.
"I'd have to say, just to balance the ledger a little bit, the action taken by the ISS staff last night does, in fact, demonstrate that they're prepared to take action when they realise they've made a mistake," Mr Retter told ABC Radio.
"We need to acknowledge that we have about 60 million-plus passengers which go through screening points at our airports each year and mistakes do happen.
"The trick, of course, is to make sure that if there are any systemic weaknesses or problems that we address them."
