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WA Senator Glenn Sterle believes the stricter regulations are a good start but worries the lack of knowledge of airspace restrictions could pose a privacy and national security threat. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n "It's a good start but I do believe they\u2019ve been looking into it given Gatwick," he said.<\/p>\n "We had the report tabled in July 2018 but we haven\u2019t had a courtesy response from the government. Now, (the Civil Aviation Security Authority) is looking into the inquiry.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n "I don't know how they're going to track all those serial numbers but we should be able to know who's behind those drones. It's a matter of privacy, public safety and national security."<\/p>\n CASA announced Christmas Eve it would crack down on drone operators, particularly around airport areas, using surveillance technology.<\/p>\n "We\u2019ll have equipment that allows us to see drones in flight, identify weather control on it, where the drones are, as well as read serial numbers of individual drones," a CASA spokesman said.<\/p>\n The spokesman said the crackdown was planned "well before Gatwick happened" and included public consultations over the years, but Gatwick stood as an example of why the real-time capability is needed.<\/p>\n "We\u2019ll use it catch people right there and issue penalties, initially at major airports, then at plush hotspots like the Sydney Harbour," the spokesman said.<\/p>\n Penalties run from $1000 to $10,000.<\/p>\n An Airobotics automated drone flies over a mine site. Drones over 250 grams will now face tougher enforcement. <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Drone operators caught flying within 30 metres of other people are slapped with $1000 whereas putting an airplane at risk could land someone in court.<\/p>\n However, Mr Sterle believes the push to catch drone operators through their serial numbers is a solution for a fraction of the problem.<\/p>\n "Drones are considered fun but many forget it is lethal," he saide. "CASA has a map of where you can fly and these tech for serial number scanning are an added check.<\/p>\n "But, kids zapping drones into the air \u2014 well, how are they going to figure out rules?"<\/p>\n Mandatory registration <\/strong><\/p>\n CASA's solution to the lack of education around drones comes down to it's incoming mandatory national drone registration scheme, coming mid-next year.<\/p>\n Through an online course on safety rules and a general-knowledge test, owners can be certified while CASA accesses their details.<\/p>\n "We\u2019ll be able to contact them via email and make sure they\u2019re getting information on drone hotspots," the CASA spokesman said.<\/p>\n The authority is also working out the penalty part for those who choose to not register.<\/p>\n The scheme comes as CASA takes into account Mr Sterle's bipartisan report. The report urged the government to introduce a "non-onerous financial" mandatory registration scheme and tiered education program.<\/p>\n Under this, beginners have a limit of 200 feet while recreational users have a limit of 400 feet to fly their drones.<\/p>\n But, for Mr Sterle, the problem isn\u2019t the drone's actions, rather users' take on privacy.<\/p>\n "In our public hearings, we\u2019ve heard of accounts of drones buzzing in people\u2019s backyards while they\u2019re in swimming pools, buzzing near people\u2019s rooms in the night," he said.<\/p>\n "I walked from the casino Ed Sheeran\u2019s concert and there\u2019s a drone hovering over all 10,000 of us.<\/p>\n An irresponsible drone owner was fined $1000 for flying the drone within a populated area of 30m at Ed Sheeran's Brisbane Concert. Credit:Christopher Pearce<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n "I don\u2019t have a problem with those who use it for life-saving medications, photography or business but I think our privacy is at serious risk.<\/p>\n "Imagine if someone flew it over our defence bases and police stations purposely or accidentally. Or someone flew drugs in. We have to track and make sure they know what they're doing."<\/p>\n Mr Sterle said there was believed to be more than 50,000 drone operators in Australia but there was no way of tracing their drones, especially those heavier than 250 grams, until this scheme.<\/p>\n "Just look at Gatwick," he said.<\/p>\n In the UK, recreation drones have fitted GPS "geo-fencing" to prevent flying in restricted airspaces.<\/p>\n The Australian government said CASA would continue to support manufacturer\u2019s efforts to utilise geo-fencing technology to prevent drones flying near airports and other restricted airspaces.<\/p>\n However, Mr Sterle\u2019s report notes hospital landing sites, busy airspace sights like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Gold Coast and Melbourne\u2019s Docklands, and firefighting operations have all been impacted by drones in the past two years.<\/p>\n "Victoria has had four incidents in the autumn season 2017 of drones flying over planned burns," Brendan Zwanikken, then-Manager of Aviation Services at Victoria\u2019s Department of Environment, Water and Land said in the report.<\/p>\n In January 2018, 11 drones \u2014 six of which were within 20 nautical miles of the Sydney Airport \u2014 had near-encounters with planes.<\/p>\n A Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities spokesman said the government supported "exciting potential for drones" but wanted to ensure the technology wasn't used for disruptive or illegal purposes.<\/p>\n "[This] is why we have agreed to introduce a registration system to improve the control and monitoring of drone ownership," he said.<\/p>\n Mr Stearle hopes the next step involves lining up drone regulations in equivalence to the US.<\/p>\n "We align ourselves with the US when it suits us," he said. "They have laws surrounding drones not being close to their US Capitol. What makes us so special we can\u2019t have similar laws for our Parliament House, for instance?"<\/p>\n Parliament House is not currently listed as a "prohibited area" but as a "not appropriate" area to fly that falls in the Canberra airport zone.<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/mdpair.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/d804ae366947cd05db6c0547116782ce3d089b45.jpg\")
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