Medai reports say that the The Federal Government will ban the importing of high-powered lasers that have been used to try to blind pilots of passenger planes landing at Sydney Airport.
Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said the Federal Government would restrict the sale and importing of laser pointers by classifying them as a weapon.
The move comes after six planes were targeted by lasers last month in a cluster attack over Bexley, NSW.
“Recent attacks on pilots have highlighted the seriousness of the problem. It’s destructive, dangerous behaviour which needs a co-ordinated response across Australia,” Mr Debus said.
He said the Government needed to work with the states and industry experts to decide which classes of laser pointers should be banned.
Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said: “Whilst we wouldn’t normally want to rush in and see things banned left, right and centre, if that’s the only way to deal with this increasing menace, then so be it.”
A spokesman for state Police and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron said that in Victoria laser pointers already fell under the Control of Weapons Act.
A Report by The Mole
