CANBERRA, Australia, April 28 (UPI) -- Australian efforts to screen port workers and issue them special identity cards as part of counter-terror measures is facing difficulty.
According to The Australian, ports authorities have warned start of the scheme in January could be delayed because the time and processing difficulties involved were underestimated.
The newspaper said only 1,900 applications from 130,000 maritime workers had been received by authorities. Of that number, only 1,500 screenings and card issues have been completed.
A spokeswoman for federal transport authorities said the delays were in part caused because "some of the maritime industry participants have been slow in setting up and accepting applications."
"The minister is disappointed that the roll-out has not progressed as quickly as the industry or the government had expected," she said.
