This instrument is the Maritime Transport Security (Screening Officer Requirements) Determination 2025.

This instrument commences the day after it is registered.

This instrument is made under section 165A of the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003.

Note: The Secretary may exempt a class of screening officers from one or more of the requirements in this determination if the Secretary is satisfied an exceptional circumstance exists—see Act, section 165B.

4 Definitions

In this instrument:

Act means the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003.

Aviation screening officer means a person who was engaged or employed as a screening officer by a screening authority under the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004.

Independent screening decision means a decision:

made by a screening officer when exercising a specified power or performing a screening function; and
related to whether or not to allow a person, personal effects, baggage, goods, vehicles, or a vessel to pass through a screening point without prompting or guidance from a supervising screening officer.

Maritime accreditation test is a test that the Secretary is satisfied is appropriate to test the ability of a screening officer:

to exercise a power mentioned in Division 6 of Part 8 of the Act that may be exercised by a screening officer; or
to perform a specified screening function.

Maritime entity means a port facility operator or ship operator for a Regulated Australian Ship under the Act.

Regulations means the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Regulations 2003.

Note 1: Some terms used in this notice are defined in the Act, including baggage, port facility operator, regulated Australian Ship, screening function, screening officer, and ship operator.

Note 2: Some terms used in this notice are defined in the Regulations, including MSIC, holder and properly displaying.

Note 3: Some terms used in the definition of aviation screening officer are defined in the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004, including screening authority and screening officer.

5 Schedules

Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

Part 2 Requirements relating to screening officers

Division 1 Requirements for particular screening officers

6 Application of division

This division applies to screening officers engaged or employed by a maritime entity that has been served a notice under regulation 7.30 of the Regulations.

7 General qualification requirements

(1) A screening officer must hold one of the following qualifications:

(a) a Certificate II in Transport Security Protection; or

(b) any other qualification that the Secretary is satisfied will enable the holder to carry out the duties of a screening officer under the Act; or

8 Alternative qualification requirements for specified screening officers

(1) This section applies to a screening officer if the person:

(a) on or before 16 January 2022—was engaged or employed as a screening officer or an aviation screening officer; and

(b) on or after 15 June 2020—did not cease to be engaged or employed as a screening officer or aviation screening officer for a continuous period of more than 24 months.

(2) A screening officer that meets the criteria in subsection (1) may hold one of the following qualifications:

(a) a Certificate II in Security Operations;

(b) a qualification that the Secretary is satisfied is equivalent to a Certificate II in Security Operations; or

(c) if the person was formerly an aviation screening officer — training and experience acquired while working as a security guard that is sufficient to satisfy the requirements for obtaining a security guard license in the state or territory where the person intends to work as a screening officer.

9 Training

(1) A screening officer must complete at least 40 hours of on-the-job training specific to their role if the screening officer:

(a) was first engaged or employed as a screening officer on or after 1 July 2023; or

(b) is re-engaged or re-employed as a screening officer after ceasing to be engaged or employed as a screening officer for a continuous period of more than 24 months occurring on or after 1 July 2023.

Example: If a person left their employment as a screening officer on 1 June 2023 and returned 3 July 2025 seeking to be re-employed as a screening officer, the person must complete at least 40 hours of on-the-job training specific to their role because they have ceased to be engaged for a continuous period of 24 months, of which 24 months or more fell after 30 June 2023.

(2) This section does not apply to a person who was an aviation screening officer on or before 30 June 2022 and was subsequently engaged or employed as a screening officer, unless the circumstance in paragraph 9(1)(b) applies.

Example: A person who was an aviation screening officer on or before 30 June 2022 is subsequently engaged or employed by a maritime entity as a screening officer would not need to complete the training requirements unless they ceased to be engaged as a screening officer for a continuous period of 24 months after 30 June 2023, and are later reengaged or employed as a screening officer.

(3) For subsection (1), on-the-job training may include the following:

(a) supervised practice at a live screening point, preferably live;

(b) training on X-ray image interpretation;

(d) training on weapons and prohibited items;

(e) training on maintaining the integrity of cleared areas;

(f) training on methods and techniques for screening; or

(g) training designed to ensure familiarity with legislation relevant to screening.

10 Testing screening officers

Requirement to pass a maritime accreditation test

(1) A screening officer must:

(a) before making any independent screening decision—pass a maritime accreditation test for each power or screening function the screening officer will exercise or perform; and

(b) at least once every 12 months—pass a maritime accreditation test for each power and screening function the screening officer exercises or performs as a screening officer.

(2) Before undertaking a maritime accreditation test, a screening officer must comply with sections 7 and 9.

(3) If no maritime accreditation test relates to a particular power or screening function that the person may use, the screening officer must pass, or have passed, any maritime accreditation test for other powers or functions, before exercising the power or performing the screening function.

Failure of a maritime accreditation test

(4) If a screening officer fails a maritime accreditation test related to a power or screening function, until the screening officer passes the maritime accreditation test, the screening officer must:

(a) be supervised by a screening officer who has completed and passed the relevant maritime accreditation test; and

(b) not make an independent screening decision using that power or screening function.

Note 1: Failing a maritime accreditation test will only prevent a screening officer from exercising the powers or performing the functions related to the specific test, and will not prevent a screening officer from exercising other powers or performing other functions for which the screening officer has passed the maritime accreditation tests for those other powers and functions.

Retaking a maritime accreditation test

(5) A screening officer who fails a maritime accreditation test may re-take the test at any time, but no more than three times in any 30-day period.

Note 2: The 30-day period would commence from the date of a screening officer’s first unsuccessful attempt at a specified maritime accreditation test.

Example: If a screening officer made an unsuccessful attempt at a maritime accreditation test on 1 July 2023, a second unsuccessful attempt on 2 July 2023, and a third unsuccessful attempt on 3 July 2023, the screening officer could not undertake a further attempt at that maritime accreditation test until 1 August 2023.

Requirements for a maritime accreditation test

(6) A maritime accreditation test must be:

(a) administered by a person approved by the Secretary; and

(b) completed using the Department’s ICT systems.

11 Continuing professional development

(1) A screening officer must complete at least 12 hours of continuing professional development training specific to the screening officer’s role every 12 months from the date which the screening officer passed their first maritime accreditation test.

Example: If a screening officer passed their first maritime accreditation test on 1 July 2023, the screening officer must complete 12 hours of continuing professional development before 1 July 2024. The screening officer must then complete 12 hours of continuing professional development every subsequent year within 12 months from 1 July of every subsequent year.

(2) For subsection (1), the continuing professional development training may include receiving training on the following:

(a) X-ray image interpretation software;

(b) upgrades to existing equipment;

(d) detection and concealment techniques.

Division 2 Requirements that apply to all screening officers

12 Application of division

This division applies to all screening officers engaged or employed by a maritime entity.

Note: For the avoidance of doubt, this division also applies to screening officers engaged or employed by a maritime entity that has been served a notice under regulation 7.30 of the Regulations.

13 Maritime security identification cards

(1) A screening officer must:

(a) be the holder of an MSIC; and

(b) properly display that MSIC at all times while on duty, or as otherwise required by the Regulations.

Note: Holder, of an MSIC, as defined in regulation 6.07B of the Regulations.

14 Uniforms

A screening officer must wear a distinctive and recognisable uniform.

Part 3 Record keeping

15 Record keeping

(1) A maritime entity must make an electronic record, consisting of the following information (if applicable), for each screening officer they engage or employ:

(a) the date the screening officer is engaged or employed;

(b) the qualifications held by the screening officer for sections 7 and 8;

(d) any continuing professional development activity undertaken by the screening officer for section 11; and

(e) the screening officer’s unique individual MSIC number, the name of the issuing body that issued the MSIC and when the MSIC ceases to be in effect.

Note: A maritime entity is only required to make a record of the information in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) if they engage or employ a screening officer who is subject to the requirements in Part 2 of this Determination.

(2) For a person to whom section 8 or subsection 9(2) applies, the maritime entity must make an electronic record of any evidence relied on to determine those provisions apply.

Example: This evidence can include records of qualifications held or any other information demonstrating that a person was employed or engaged by a maritime entity or screening authority.

(3) A maritime entity must keep records made under subsection (1) and (2) for 2 years after the cessation of the screening officer’s employment or engagement (even if the maritime entity ceases to be a maritime entity during that time).

Schedule 1—Repeals

Maritime Transport Security (Screening Officer Requirements) Determination 2023

1 The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.