While Australia’s security agencies have no intelligence of any direct threat to Australian aviation, the international scale of the foiled London plot is likely to dictate far-reaching changes in security procedures governing cabin baggage.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said security authorities had been aware for some time of the threat posed by liquid explosives.

The national counter-terrorism committee — consisting of security experts from ASIO, the AFP, and the departments of Transport, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Prime Minister and Cabinet – – yesterday reviewed existing procedures governing Australian aviation security. Cabinet’s national security committee is likely to discuss options for tightening procedures here next week.

AIRCRAFT cabin baggage rules will be urgently reviewed by the Howard Government in the absence of screening technology that can detect some types of liquid chemicals.

Australia’s top security officials met yesterday to consider the implications of the London arrests and review global intelligence onthe plot to blow up aircraft travelling from Britain to the US.

While Australia’s security agencies have no intelligence of any direct threat to Australian aviation, the international scale of the foiled London plot is likely to dictate far-reaching changes in security procedures governing cabin baggage.

Existing airport screening machines can detect many types of chemicals, but they cannot easily identify some substances that can be combined later to make dangerous explosives.

The battle against terrorism means travellers may face draconian measures and severe limits on what they can carry.

Experts say tough new restrictions placed on US flights and those out of London to combat new types of liquid explosives — includingthe ban on all but the most essential items of hand luggage — are likely to remain.

And eventually, passengers may even be forced to wear airline- issued tracksuits if detection technology cannot keep pace.

“Hand baggage will probably never be the same again, at least for UK-US flights,” said the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation, a Sydney- based aviation think tank. “This promises to be a significant inconvenience for travellers, particularly on long-haul flights.”

John Howard said yesterday the threat posed by liquid explosives brought a “whole new menacing dimension to the terrorist threat”.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the use of such explosives on planes could eventually lead to bans on hand luggage on all flights leaving Australia.

Mr Howard said the plot uncovered by British authorities was a reminder terrorism was still “a very live and menacing” threat.

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Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said security authorities had been aware for some time of the threat posed by liquid explosives.

“The issue of liquids is one that has not been in the public arena but obviously has been thought about behind the scenes,” he said.

“Most of the screening equipment we have at airports looks for inert substances and metal-detected substances. Clearly, there has been activity in the background recognising this was a potential problem.”

A US Senate committee was told last year that traditional scanners could detect pistols but could not distinguish between hair gel and explosives.

Worries have emerged that terrorists could escape detection by taking bomb-making chemicals on planes and mixing them on board. And some substances are not readily detectable by explosives-scanning technology.

“The level of sophistication of both solid and liquid explosives … since mid-90s has increased significantly,” said associate professor Don Robertson of the Australian Centre for Security Research.

“There are all these people busily developing explosives that can’t be detected or … they’re simply borrowing technology from legitimate operators, for example miners.”

Temporary restrictions introduced on Thursday mean books, laptop computers, carry-on luggage and all liquids have been banned from flights leaving London’s Heathrow airport.

And travellers flying to and from the US face an indefinite ban on all liquids in cabin baggage — including beverages, suntan lotion, creams, toothpaste and hair gels — as well as screening of all footwear.

Airlines flying to the US must also implement increased checks on services such as meals and baggage handling.

Qantas executive general manager John Borghetti said the new restrictions were a response to a specific threat and that he was hopeful they would be lifted as soon as it was resolved.

“Will it get back to the way it was?” he said. “We hope so, but obviously safety and security comes first, and while there are security concerns this regime must be put in place.”

The national counter-terrorism committee — consisting of security experts from ASIO, the AFP, and the departments of Transport, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Prime Minister and Cabinet – – yesterday reviewed existing procedures governing Australian aviation security. Cabinet’s national security committee is likely to discuss options for tightening procedures here next week.

Mr Keelty said the performance of detection equipment at Australian airports was under constant review.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the Government had no specific information that terrorist groups were planning attacks againstAustralian interests. Australia’s existing threat level remains at medium.

“I have no advice suggesting further changes are required at this time,” Mr Ruddock said. “We have no specific information that people are planning such an operation in Australia.”