Go away Australian Border Force

[bluecat*dancing]

One of the many reasons that I love Melbourne. Your Blue Shirts are not welcome here, Mr Abbott.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australian-border-force-to-patrol-melbourne-cb...

[lloydslights]

In NSW we have a Department of Public Affairs and Communication

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/about_us/structure/specialist_operations/public_affairs_branch

I rather think, the PR person who wrote the initial press release did not know what they were writing about.  A few points may have been bandied about by those in the know with the journalist assigned to the "story".  And being a journalist (maybe an ex-Murdoch reporter), sensationalized the story.

In some cases, and this is one of them, I believe that the story should not have been told at all.  Why would you warn people, that the police would be in a specific area targetting certain elements.  Wouldn't any sane "criminal" stay away from that area?

DEB

[bluecat*dancing]

No, DEB, I think that those in power knew exactly how the press release was written. No-one misunderstood it as the wording was quite clear. I think that they underestimated the power of social media and the passion of Melbournites. Lawyers have questioned the legalities of the fiasco and there should be a number of red faces in the ABF,  Immigration Dept and Parliament. As Julian Burnside, QC, commented," They managed to be hopeless embarrassing, and sinister all at the same time."

I can imagine the Murdoch Press outrage if this happened under a Labor government.

[debra9275]

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.’

[bluecat*dancing]

Perhaps it was another failed "Captain's Pick"?  Another failed attempt to induce fear?

[amber-eyed-girl]

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@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

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@amber-eyed-girl wrote:

I like to have fun when I go out, but I try not to get arrested...so it's handy stuff to know 😉

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I doubt if you would be arrested for failing to produce ID at a nighclub or liquor store - you would simply be refused entry or service. 

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No. But as has been shown already, the police or transit guys can arrest you if you don't produce it on request.

not going to post the law again, done it 🙂

real life, seen it happen.

[j*oono]

It's ok everyone.  Bolt DID say so 😄  It's all leftists and Shortens fault for confecting this outrage over a misunderstood press release.

Oops.  He accidentally called Janet Albrechtsen Miranda.  Miranda is busy working on her anti twitterati mudslinging blog.

[debra9275]

unfortunately I heard bolt on that herald/sun link I posted. read the story and got out of there real quick 

[amber-eyed-girl]

Is there a problem with the wording of it will never happen? Has that been discussed, too? Haven't seen the papers today.

I am reading it loud and clear. No random visa checks in this country. A statement like that has to be honoured. So if anyone had any intention of doing it (and to be in a briefing it was discussed), it has been blocked from the top.

I am focusing on that as being a good thing to come out of this. 

[tezza2844 · Accepted solution]

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@bluecat*stopsdancing wrote:

Perhaps it was another failed "Captain's Pick"?  Another failed attempt to induce fear?

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Menzies had the yellow peril from the north, Fraser had his reds under the bed, Howard had his Tampa, children overboard and "We will decides you comes to this country etc etc to get re-elected , but poor old Tony has zilch. He has to create a fear of illegals roaming the streets committing unspeakable crimes so he can use it as a re-election issue

[bluecat*dancing]

I find it hard to believe anything that comes out of "the top's" mouth due to his track record. I hope that there is an independant inquiry into this piece of political theatre gone wrong. It would be very interesting to find out what really happened.