My friend is returning to Perth from Europe. He wants to take a drill with Lithium ion batteries back with him. He is wondering if he can put it in his checked in luggage in the undercarriage. The reason I ask is because another friend of his posted a similar drill to Perth from Europe but when it arrived the batteries had been confiscated by customs.

Take the batteries out.

And putting it in the luggage in the hold would be better than putting it in the undercarriage

Can certainly be classed as dangerous goods. I know TV camera crews often have issues...but it is size and quantity dependant.

Here are QANTAS rules for example:

Lithium ion batteries with a Watt-hour rating exceeding 100 Wh but not exceeding 160 Wh for portable electronic devices. No more than two spare batteries may be carried in carry-on baggage only. These batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits. Equipment containing such batteries may be in checked or carry-on baggage.

Last week I travelled from Canberra to Perth, I had a cordless drill with lithium batterys, I informed the checkin staff what i was carrying, they just checked their books and allowed the drill in its case and one battery to go in the checked in luggage and the spare battery to go in my carry on luggage. No problem

New rules are due out shortly on these batteries

Due to the loss of 2 cargo aircraft as a result of in flight fires when they short circuit (they burn without needing an oxygen supply).

It may just be that they have to be <20% charged, not decided yet. But it will explain why some agents will take them from you.

Is this true? I was

Is this true? I was planning on taking 4-6 with me and buying the body's of the tools over there??

Yes it's true...they are a significant danger in checked bags. Hence they would rather you carry them onboard in limited quantities so there is some hope of dealing with them if they malfunction.

That is honestly something I never knew. you've mibby saved a few life's here, I was planning on taking 6 makita ones over

For work, we send 'chemical' aerosol cans to New Zealand and PNG by air freight. There is nothing in them more than a can of Lynx or similar, yet we have to pay a $1000+ per six tins for dangerous goods packing charge. The chemical itself is worth less than $30 / tin.

Makes you wonder how safe aerosols are in your checked bags if they apply this rule to commercial goods.