At the time of publication, Crikey was seeking further information on the extraordinary statement this morning from the Australian Border Force that it would be patrolling the streets of the Melbourne CBD on the weekend as part of a multi-agency operation “to support the best interests of Melbournians, targeting everything from anti-social behaviour to outstanding warrants”.
“ABF officers will be positioned at various locations around the CBD speaking with any individual we cross paths with,” an ABF official boasted. “You need to be aware of the conditions of your visa.”
How exactly ABF officers are to know who should have a visa isn’t clear. The largest numbers of visa overstayers are from, in order: China, Malaysia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Will ABF officers be randomly stopping Melburnians to demand to know their citizenship status? Will they engage in racial profiling? How much will this stunt cost?
The Abbott government established the Australian Border Force to assist in its desperate hyping of national security. The agency has always had absurdly draconian powers, but harassing and racially profiling Australian citizens is a whole new level of farce.
I think there’s probably a certain point, where screaming *security* and waving flags will stop working for Tony Abbott. Jumping sharks at Flinders st station might just be that moment.
I’m just hoping with the return of The Chaser in a couple of weeks Chas and co. may make a visit to Melbourne with the APEC wardrobe in tow.
A ‘whole new level of farce’? No, sadly. A new force majeure.
Victoria police can only ask for you to give your name and address if they reasonable suspect you have committed a crime.
Failing to give your name and address and other details to the ABF, on demand, is a crime, as I read the new laws. Australia takes yet another step towards totalitarianism and few care.
Will Bronwyn be orbiting overhead in a black helicopter with the Liberal candidate for Canning?
Straight out of the Fascist playbook. What the hell is the ABF doing dealing with “anti-social behaviour to outstanding warrants”? Is that not the responsibility of the police?
Next they will be tapping into the ‘metadata’ that my ISP must now store and finding posts like this, which will at some point become criminal if the current path is continued on.