it's so very confusing- at first the govt denied they even knew about it but now it seems that the ABF press release did go to at least Dutton's office- but he claims no-one read it.
so nope, nope nope has become yep, yep yep
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-30/peter-duttons-office-received-border-force-press-release/67355...
Peter Dutton's office received an advanced copy of the press release saying Australian Border Force officers would be cracking down on visa fraud but no-one read it, the Immigration Minister says.
http://m.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/border-farce-immigration-minister-peter-duttons-office-saw-b...
samantha maiden of the herald/sun was first to publish this news last night
Border Farce: Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s office saw Border Force visa operation briefing ahead of its release
AUSTRALIAN Border Force’s “over the top and wrong’’ press release that sparked a near riot in Melbourne was sent to Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s office but nobody bothered to read the document.
As the Prime Minister conceded on Saturday the press release that promised random visa checks outside Flinders St Station was a “mistake’’, Mr Dutton’s office has revealed it was first sent a briefing note on Wednesday night.
Earlier, Mr Abbott had told reporters he “wouldn’t know’’ what was the highest level in the Immigration Department that had cleared the document.
Just hours later, Mr Dutton confirmed to the Sunday Herald Sun his own office had been sent a copy.
Earlier, when asked if he or his office was aware of the operation the Prime Minister said “nope, nope’’.
“I think there’s a bit of hyperventilating going on here,’’ he said.
“All sorts of press releases go out all the time but they go out under the authority of the relevant officials ... and that all happens at arms length from ministers.’’
It can also be revealed that Operation Fortitude that sparked protests in Melbourne was originally designed to conduct spot checks of taxi drivers licence and visas.
The revelations that the Abbott Government received a copy of the press release confirms former Immigration Department communications chief Sandi Logan’s claim that it would have been sent to variety of senior staff and Mr Dutton’s office.
Labor leader Bill Shorten, who failed to criticise Operation Fortitude on civil liberty grounds on Friday, said yesterday it was a “farce’’.
Comparing the bungle to the decision to award Prince Phillip a knighthood, Mr Shorten said the Prime Minister had questions to answer.
“The blame starts at the top,’’ Mr Shorten said.
“It’s sort of like a uniformed version of the Prince Philip decision.
Labor frontbencher Brendan O’Connor, who criticised the operation on “privacy’’ grounds, conducted scores of similar visa check operation as Immigration Minister that unions have supported to protect exploitation of foreign workers.
Under the Migration Act, immigration officers may require a person “whom the officer knows or reasonably suspects is a non-citizen” to present evidence of their identity or citizenship status. This can include a passport or other documents including a taxi licence or drivers’ licence.
But the embarrassing bungle prompted widespread anger in The Abbott Government ministry, with one frontbencher privately describing the increasingly quasi-military approach to security at airports as over the top and “unAustralian.’’
The Prime Minister warned those who sought to demean the role of Australia Border Force on the basis of a “badly-worded press release” should be “a little ashamed of themselves”.
“Obviously it was a mistake. The press release was clumsy. It was over the top and wrong,’’ Mr Abbott said.
“We would never stop people in the street and we ask them for their visa details. We don’t do that in Australia.
“I think the Australian Border Force does an absolutely outstanding job, and the idea that they should be pilloried on the basis of a badly-worded press release is shameful.’
Your Blue Shirts are not welcome here, Mr Abbott.
