{"id":"F2022L01198","name":"Aviation Transport Security (Prohibited Items) Instrument 2022","slug":"aviation-transport-security-prohibited-items-instrument-2022","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":102639,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2022L01198-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Aviation Transport Security (Prohibited Items) Instrument 2022","content":"![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\nLIN 22/078\n\nAviation Transport Security (Prohibited Items) Instrument 2022\n\nI, Clare O’Neil, Minister for Home Affairs, make this instrument under section 9A of the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 (the Act).\n\nDated 9 September 2022\n\nThe Hon. Clare O’Neil MP\n\nMinister for Home Affairs\n\n1 Name\n\nThis instrument is the Aviation Transport Security (Prohibited Items) Instrument 2022.\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis instrument commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3 Repeal\n\nThe Aviation Transport Security (Prohibited Items) Instrument 2012 (F2015C00564) is repealed.\n\n4 Definitions\n\n> In this instrument:\n\n> Act means the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004.\n\n> Regulations means the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005.\n\n5 Prohibited items\n\n(1) An item mentioned in the following table is specified for paragraph (b) of the definition of prohibited item in section 9 of the Act.\n\n| Item | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n| ---- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 1    | Sporting goods, kitchen utensils, tools, and other items with sharp edges or points capable of injuring a personExamplesAxes, hatchets and similar itemsBox cuttersCramponsDartsDrillsIce axes and ice picksIce skatesKnives, including leatherworking knivesMeat cleaversMetal cutleryOpen razors (also called straight razors)Rock climbing equipment such as pitons, hooks, hammers and boltsSawsScalpelsScrewdrivers, crowbars, hammers, pliers and wrenchesSki polesUtility knivesNote: Note Some items of this kind are excluded under subsections 7(1), (2) and (5). |\n| 2    | Sharp items that are not weapons but are capable (with or without modification) of causing harm by penetrationExamplesLetter‑openersBodkinsPointed metal scissors, manicure scissors and scissors with blades more than 6 cm longRazor bladesHypodermic needles (whether or not attached to syringes)Note: Note Some items of this kind are excluded under subsections 7(1), (2) and (5).                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n| 3    | Blunt items (other than walking sticks, crutches, or other mobility aids, or dressing sticks designed to assist a person to dress or undress) that are able to be used to bludgeon or threaten to bludgeon a personExamplesBaseball, softball, and cricket bats and any similar item used in sportHockey and lacrosse sticks and any similar item used in sportBilliard, pool or snooker cuesGolf clubsAny other piece of wood, metal or any other substance big enough to threaten a person withNote: Note Some items of this kind are excluded under subsection 7(5).     |\n| 4    | Household flammable goodsExamplesAerosol containers, including cans of spray paintPetrol and any other flammable liquidFireworksToy capsNote Some items of this kind are excluded under subsections 7(3) and (5).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |\n| 5    | Items capable of being used to restrain a person that are not authorised under a provision of the Act, the Regulations or this instrumentExamplesCable tiesHandcuffsNote Some items of this kind are excluded under subsection 7(5).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |\n| 6    | A knife or knife‑like item (whether or not made of metal) strong enough to be used as a weaponNote Some items of this kind are excluded under subsections 7(1), (2) and (5).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |\n\n  \n\n(2) An item that is a replica or imitation of an item in the table in subsection (1) is also specified for paragraph (b) of the definition of prohibited item in section 9 of the Act.\n\n> Note 1 Examples of items that are set out in the table are not exhaustive: see section 15AD of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.\n\n> Note 2 An item that is a prohibited item under this instrument and a weapon under regulation 1.09 of the Regulations is a weapon for the purposes of the Regulations: see subregulation 1.09(5).\n\n6 Application of other laws\n\n  To avoid doubt, nothing in this instrument implies that an item not mentioned in the table in subsection 5(1) is permitted to be carried by air if its carriage would be prohibited by another law.\n\n> Note See in particular section 23 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Part 92 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 in relation to the carriage of dangerous goods.\n\n7 Items that are not prohibited items\n\n  For paragraph (b) of the definition of prohibited item in section 9 of the Act, the following items are not prohibited items.\n  Household and personal items\n\n(1) The following items are not prohibited items:\n\n(a) a plastic cutlery knife;\n\n(b) a fork with square‑ended or round‑ended tines and a handle that is round‑ended and non‑detachable;\n\n(c) blunt‑ended or round‑ended scissors with blades less than 6 cm long;\n\n(d) a safety razor;\n\n(e) a hypodermic needle carried by a person who shows proof that it is medically necessary for the person’s use or the use of another person under the person’s care.\n\n  Metal cutlery knife\n\n(2) A metal cutlery knife is not a prohibited item if the knife is round‑ended with no sharp points and:\n\n(a) it is in the possession of a person on an aircraft for use on that aircraft; or\n\n(b) it is in the possession of a person in a landside security zone for use in that zone; or\n\n(c) it is in the possession of a person in an airside security zone and either:\n\n(i) is to be used in the course of, or for the purposes of, carrying on a business requiring the use of cutlery in a landside security zone; or\n\n(ii) is for use by persons on an aircraft; or\n\n(d) it is in a person’s possession when the person passes through a screening point and either:\n\n(i) is to be used in the course of, or for the purposes of, carrying on a business requiring the use of cutlery in a landside security zone; or\n\n(ii) is for use by persons on an aircraft in accordance with an arrangement with the aircraft operator for the supply of cutlery.\n\n  Flammable goods\n\n(3) The following items are not prohibited items if they do not exceed the limits mentioned in subsection (4):\n\n(a) alcohol (including alcoholic beverages);\n\n(b) perfume;\n\n(c) matches and lighters;\n\n(d) lighter fluid;\n\n(e) an aerosol container for personal (including cosmetic) use or a medical application (such as an asthma inhaler).\n\n> Note The carriage of some of these items may be regulated as dangerous goods: see section 23 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Part 92 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.\n\n    (4) The limits for the items mentioned in subsection (3) are as follows:\n\n(a) the total volume of all liquid items must not exceed 5 litres;\n\n(b) the volume of liquid items, other than alcohol or perfume, must not exceed 2 litres;\n\n(c) the total mass of all non‑liquid items must not be greater than 2 kilograms.\n\n  Aircraft stores etc.\n    (5) An item that is part of an aircraft’s stores or emergency equipment, or of an airline operator’s or airport operator’s emergency equipment, is not a prohibited item if it is not readily accessible to passengers or the public.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument repeals the 2012 prohibited‑items instrument (s3) and restates specified prohibited categories, replicas, and targeted exemptions. The source text does not identify any substantive expansion or contraction of the scope compared to the repealed instrument; determining any change would require comparing the two instruments directly."},"complexity_factors":["Cross‑references to the Act and Regulations (definitions and legal effect): s4, note after s5(2), s6 — requires users to consult multiple instruments.","Categorical drafting with non‑exhaustive examples (table in s5(1) with Acts Interpretation Act note) — interpretation depends on examples vs categories.","Numerous targeted exceptions and quantitative limits (s7(1)–(5); s7(3)–(4): 5 L total, 2 L non‑alcohol/perfume, 2 kg non‑liquids) increase line‑drawing and screening complexity.","Inclusion of replicas and interaction with weapon definitions in Regulations (s5(2) and note) creates overlap with other regulatory regimes (weapon/dangerous goods rules).","Repeal of prior instrument (s3) may create transitional or compliance-readiness issues for operators and airports.","Operational discretion implied (who enforces/exempts in practice is left to regulators/operators and screening processes) increases implementation variance."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument replaces the previous prohibited‑items list and specifies which items passengers cannot carry under section 9 of the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004. It lists categories (sharp, blunt, flammable, restraining items, knives), includes replicas, and sets exemptions and size/quantity limits (for example limited liquids and some cutlery and medical needles). Airlines, airports and travellers face the compliance and screening burden; regulators and operators decide enforcement and access to exemptions."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument maintains the same scope as its predecessor (the 2012 version it repeals). It continues to specify prohibited items for aviation security purposes with similar categorical structures and exceptions. While it updates specific examples and refines some exceptions (particularly around metal cutlery and volume limits), it does not expand beyond the original purpose of regulating items carried onto aircraft and into airport security zones."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple nested exceptions in section 7 with specific conditions (e.g., metal cutlery knives allowed only in specific zones with specific purposes)","Cross-references to the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004, Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005, Civil Aviation Act 1988, and Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998","Volume and mass limits in subsection 7(4) requiring calculation (5L total liquids, 2L non-alcohol/perfume liquids, 2kg non-liquids)","Zone-specific permissions (landside vs airside security zones) creating contextual rules","Replica/imitation clause in subsection 5(2) creating subjective assessment criteria","Dual classification issues (items can be both prohibited items and regulated dangerous goods under separate laws)"],"plain_english_summary":"This law updates rules on items banned from aircraft and secure areas of Australian airports, replacing the 2012 version. It forbids weapons, dangerous and flammable items and their replicas while allowing limited, practical exceptions for certain everyday, medical and airline-use items.\n\nIt affects air passengers, airport staff and operators, and aims to enhance aviation security while balancing safety with necessary personal and operational allowances."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/aviation-transport-security-prohibited-items-instrument-2022","history":"/api/acts/aviation-transport-security-prohibited-items-instrument-2022/history","analysis":"/api/acts/aviation-transport-security-prohibited-items-instrument-2022/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/aviation-transport-security-prohibited-items-instrument-2022/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/aviation-transport-security-prohibited-items-instrument-2022/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/aviation-transport-security-prohibited-items-instrument-2022/documents"}}