Aircraft
Six planes had to divert from Sydney airport after a laser pointer was aimed into the cockpits

Australian state to ban laser pointers

Panic among sales and marketing staff

Written by Iain Thomson

These fools, these idiots, these reckless individuals

Morris Iemma New South Wales State Premier

A bill being considered by the governing body in New South Wales could see laser pointers classified as dangerous weapons.

The legislation follows a spate of incidents in which aircraft pilots have been temporarily blinded by laser pointers used from the ground.

Using a laser pointer 'improperly' would carry a $5,000 fine or two years in jail, or 14 years for improper use of a high-powered device.

New South Wales State Premier Morris Iemma claimed that the ban would "stop the potential for mass murder".

"I cannot underestimate the catastrophic consequences if a plane is brought down by one of these fools, these idiots, these reckless individuals who want to use these high-powered hand-held lasers and think it's a joke," he said.

Earlier this year six planes had to divert from Sydney airport after a laser pointer was aimed into the cockpits while on final approach. Last year a rescue helicopter carrying a critically ill patient was also forced to divert due to " laser disruption".

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