And the airport security saga continues. The Australian newspaper this week published a leaked Customs report detailing how 39 of Sydney Airport’s 500 security screeners have serious criminal convictions. When questioned about the behaviour of baggage-handlers, some of whom have been linked to a cocaine-smuggling ring, the Transport Workers Union’s Glenn Nightingale maintained that inappropriate conduct would not be tolerated:

NIGHTINGALE: Now if there’s rotten apples let’s get rid of the rotten apples. If you haven’t got a proper security regime these rotten apples will thrive…*

INTERVIEWER: Rotten apples don’t just… rot away?

NIGHTINGALE: No! Rotten apples thrive and multiply and endanger good Australians everywhere.

INTERVIEWER: Could they evolve into a cider, or perhaps a nice apple liqueur?

NIGHTINGALE: That’s not what the public wants.

But hours later Nightingale had somewhat changed his tune:

INTERVIEWER: So you’re happy with any level of surveillance of your members by close-circuit television?

NIGHTINGALE: ….If there is rock knuckles let’s remove the rock knuckles.*

INTERVIEWER: Rock knuckles?

NIGHTINGALE: Rock knuckles have to be removed to obtain the perfect apple liqueur.

INTERVIEWER: And no doubt the public applauds your stance. Can we end this entry and go back to John and Bryan now?

*Source: ABC Statewide
*Source: ABC 702