Screening Officer Powers / Authorisations
I know there are numerous threads in relation to airport security screening and the various levels of discrepancy between various ports and screening officers however I am unable to find a thread that answers my following question.
When a suspected or prohibited item is detected in carry on luggage, does the screening officer have the right to proceed to open your bag without first obtaining your consent to do so?
I have looked at both the Transport Security Act and the Transport Security Regulations but I am unable to find an answer to my question in the documents (unless they are in plain sight and I am overlooking it). I can see references to items of clothing and frisk searches but nothing about their authority in relation to the handling of carry-on baggage other than the requirement for it to be screened.
If someone can point me in the direction of a reference that provides an answer to this it would be appreciated.