Dick et al,
If Bourke (as one case) has fencing only then the whole exercise is indeed pointless. The only thing that will increase security is baggage screening. Sink the $48 million into that and we might be getting somewhere.
On a controversial point, why not take some of that money and form a CAP-type auxilliary with volunteer pilots to watch over the regional (genuine regional - not EN or MB "regional") airports among other things (like filling in for ailing Dorniers). No-one can recognise strange goings-on around an airport better than a pilot.
Walrus