Yesterday, the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection announced that ABF officers would take part in an unprecedented operation and suggested it could include visa checks on people on the streets of Melbourne.
Protesters flooded a Melbourne railway station earlier to protest the announcement of the controversial operation.
“With a particular focus on people travelling to, from and around the CBD, the group of agencies will work together to support the best interests of Melburnians, targeting everything from anti-social behaviour to outstanding warrants”.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the State Government, Victoria Police and the community would never condone such an operation.
“ABF officers will be positioned at various locations around the city speaking with any individual we cross paths with”, Smith said.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) said its officers would join police and transport officials to target visa fraud by carrying out the checks around the city.
Authorised by the ABF (Australian Border Force), it includes intercepting suspicious-looking non-citizens at random.
Opposition leader Bill shorten has an opposing viewpoint.
“Melbourne shouldn’t be a place where a government officer can stop you in the street and demand to see your papers because you’re suspected of being a foreigner”.
The protest continued as the time for the operation, scheduled for Friday 2:00 p.m., crept closer.
Just as East Germany’s Stasi would be delighted with the Australian Border Force – why, even [Chilean dictator] General Pinochet would be impressed.
But it provoked widespread mockery and the ABF was forced to issue a series of follow up statements clarifying it “does not and will not stop people on the streets”.
“I want to make it absolutely crystal clear, as far as this government is concerned, people will never be stopped in the street randomly and asked for their visa details”, ABC quoted Abbott.
According to Abbott, the prime minister’s office has not been aware of the joint agency operation in Melbourne. Mr Abbott was quick to step back from the planned operation, denying all knowledge and implying that low level staffers were to blame.
He said nothing untoward had happened except the agency had issued a poorly worded press release, describing it as a mistake and “over the top”.
The initially-circumspect Labor leader stepped up his criticism a day after the operation was abandoned, saying it took some time for the full ramifications to sink in.
CPSU National Secretary Nadine Flood said Australian Border Force employees had contacted the union expressing concern about how the event had been “politicised”.