This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/aug/28/protest-against-border-force-visa-crackdown-shuts-melbourne-streets-live
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Chaos in Melbourne as Australian Border Force cancels visa crackdown after protests – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.49pm AEST06:49 | |
| The Liberal Democratic senator David Leyonhjelm has also weighed in on the use of the Australian Border Force in the operation at Melbourne CBD. | |
| My colleague Daniel Hurst has just sent through this statement from Leyonhjelm: | |
| Either the border force are doing racial profiling, in which case they should stop it, or they are hassling everyone, and they should stop that as well. We do not need any more uniformed goons. | |
| This indicates that the border force should be radically downsized and its workers allowed to do something useful for a living. | |
| Updated at 3.53pm AEST | |
| 3.45pm AEST06:45 | |
| My colleague Melissa Davey was speaking with protesters at Flinders Street station earlier at the rally. Here’s what she learned: | |
| Ezekiel Ox, a leader of the protest, said the turnout, despite the protest being haphazardly organised shortly before the border force press conference was due to be held, was testament to the views of the people of Victoria. | |
| “Operation Fortitude has been abandoned, it’s been abandoned by the Abbott government, it’s been abandoned by the Victoria police, so we won’t have gestapo fascists on the streets of Melbourne this weekend harassing immigrants, harassing people of colour, harassing people speaking a second language,” he told Guardian Australia. | |
| “We’re not just claiming victory. We’re saying this is a firm victory.” | |
| Updated at 3.53pm AEST | |
| 3.42pm AEST06:42 | |
| Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is now speaking in Adelaide about the Australian Border Force Operation. | |
| There’s questions now by lawyers as to whether this has been a breach of human rights. It’s definitely overreach by the minister, but overall it’s border farce. | |
| She said the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, needs to come clean to explain whose idea it was to set out to plan the operation. | |
| It never got past the first page of the press release. The border force statement was that they were going to move into full swing today, and of course only hours later had to retract suggestions they had those powers. | |
| What has been proven today is that the Australian people don’t want to see the politicisation of our immigration department. | |
| Updated at 3.50pm AEST | |
| 3.38pm AEST06:38 | |
| Adam Bandt, the federal Greens member in Melbourne, has also welcomed the cancellation of the operation. He said the community had run the government’s “ugly politics” out of town: | |
| Operation Border Farce came to our city and was just as quickly shown the door. | |
| This morning we heard that the border force planned to station their officers around the CBD and ask questions of any individual they cross paths with, demanding to see people’s papers. | |
| This was extremely concerning and threatened Melbourne’s reputation as a welcoming city. | |
| But within hours, Melbournians came together and stood up to Tony Abbott and his politics of division. | |
| The community has sent the message that Melbourne is not 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. | |
| Greens immigration spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said: “Operation Border Farce is clearly in full swing under the Abbott government. This shows that the Australian people aren’t willing to put up with Tony Abbott’s divisive political stunts anymore. The government’s eagerness to militarise the immigration department in its ongoing war against foreigners is reckless.” | |
| Hanson-Young is still scheduled to give a press conference about the operation shortly. | |
| Updated at 3.52pm AEST | |
| 3.34pm AEST06:34 | |
| The shadow federal immigration minister, Richard Marles, has also released a statement calling on the immigration minister Peter Dutton to explain the disastrous handling of the operation by the Australian Border Force. | |
| Here’s Marles’s statement in full: | |
| Immigration minister Peter Dutton needs to come out of hiding and provide an explanation for the shambles that has seen a cross-agency operation compromised and a key government agency left red-faced. | |
| Opposition immigration and border protection spokesperson Richard Marles said the Abbott government’s overzealous handling in announcing an upcoming joint agency operation was at best clumsy and at worst shambolic. | |
| “This has been incredibly badly handled and Peter Dutton needs to immediately come clean on how this announcement was so botched,” said Mr Marles. | |
| “There is no question that there is an appropriate role for the government’s newly established Australian Border Force to be playing in cracking down on visa fraud. | |
| “We support those efforts – but what we have witnessed in the last six hours has been a complete debacle on Peter Dutton’s watch. | |
| “Mr Dutton needs to immediately explain to the community what on earth has transpired. | |
| “Who sanctioned this announcement being made, what was its purpose, who called for its retraction and who is responsible for compromising this operation?” | |
| Updated at 3.44pm AEST | |
| 3.31pm AEST06:31 | |
| Victorian police minister slams Australian Border Force over "inappropriate characterisation" | |
| The Victorian police minister Wade Noonan has just released an extraordinary statement about the ABF operation. He said it was intended as a standard operation, but was mischaracterised by the federal government agency. Here’s the full statement: | |
| The state government was notified this month that Victoria police would lead a joint-agency operation this weekend in the CBD aimed at keeping Victorians safe. | |
| We were advised it would target antisocial behaviour and commuters to ensure people got home safely. The community’s safety and wellbeing is always the government’s priority. | |
| Operation Fortitude was intended to be a standard police operation. | |
| We fully support the decision by Victoria police to cancel the operation after the unfortunate and inappropriate characterisation by the Australian Border Force today. | |
| Updated at 3.45pm AEST | |
| 3.29pm AEST06:29 | |
| Just to put things in perspective, this was a remarkably quick mobilisation of people in a short period of time. | |
| This took one hour to organise. Remarkable. #BorderForce pic.twitter.com/RG5bRAa8pZ | |
| My colleague Melissa Davey has spoken to a number of the protesters. Some are concerned about the risks of racial proifiling arising from the operation, while others expressed concerns about the militarisation of the agency. | |
| 3.25pm AEST06:25 | 3.25pm AEST06:25 |
| My colleague Melissa Davey has all the latest with our news splash on Operation Fortitude. You can read it in full here: | My colleague Melissa Davey has all the latest with our news splash on Operation Fortitude. You can read it in full here: |
| A controversial operation in Melbourne by the Australian Border Force against people overstaying their visas has been abruptly cancelled following protests. | A controversial operation in Melbourne by the Australian Border Force against people overstaying their visas has been abruptly cancelled following protests. |
| “Operation Fortitude”, due to take place on Friday night and Saturday, was called off on Friday afternoon amid chaotic scenes. | “Operation Fortitude”, due to take place on Friday night and Saturday, was called off on Friday afternoon amid chaotic scenes. |
| About 200 people protesting against the Australian border force (ABF) operation blocked the intersection of Flinders Street and Swanston Street in the city, disrupting traffic. | About 200 people protesting against the Australian border force (ABF) operation blocked the intersection of Flinders Street and Swanston Street in the city, disrupting traffic. |
| Officers from the ABF and Victoria police had planned a press conference at 2pm Friday outside Flinders Street train station to talk about “Operation Fortitude”, a mass operation taking place on Friday and Saturday targeting those overstaying their visas, with outstanding arrest warrants and being disruptive. | Officers from the ABF and Victoria police had planned a press conference at 2pm Friday outside Flinders Street train station to talk about “Operation Fortitude”, a mass operation taking place on Friday and Saturday targeting those overstaying their visas, with outstanding arrest warrants and being disruptive. |
| Announcing that the operation has been cancelled, Victoria police said: “We understand there has been a high level of community interest and concern which has been taken into consideration when making this decision. | Announcing that the operation has been cancelled, Victoria police said: “We understand there has been a high level of community interest and concern which has been taken into consideration when making this decision. |
| “Victoria police’s priority is the safety and wellbeing of the whole community and we will continue to work with our partner agencies to achieve this.” | “Victoria police’s priority is the safety and wellbeing of the whole community and we will continue to work with our partner agencies to achieve this.” |
| But the operation faced a backlash from Victorians since being announced on Friday morning as fears of racial profiling and unnecessary force began to rise. Many were concerned the operation is heavy handed and unnecessary. | But the operation faced a backlash from Victorians since being announced on Friday morning as fears of racial profiling and unnecessary force began to rise. Many were concerned the operation is heavy handed and unnecessary. |
| 3.17pm AEST06:17 | 3.17pm AEST06:17 |
| Just in case anyone was interested: This morning the Australian border force was also advertising more jobs. | Just in case anyone was interested: This morning the Australian border force was also advertising more jobs. |
| The diversity of our workforce is what strengthens us. Join our dynamic team: http://t.co/PMh1dj67nf pic.twitter.com/TKzs750ufB | The diversity of our workforce is what strengthens us. Join our dynamic team: http://t.co/PMh1dj67nf pic.twitter.com/TKzs750ufB |
| Unfortunately you also need to be an Australian citizen. Here’s how they responded to one person who asked: | Unfortunately you also need to be an Australian citizen. Here’s how they responded to one person who asked: |
| Unsurprisingly, it turns out you need to be an Australian citizen to actually work for the Australian Border Force pic.twitter.com/JcmqKclh4A | Unsurprisingly, it turns out you need to be an Australian citizen to actually work for the Australian Border Force pic.twitter.com/JcmqKclh4A |
| 3.10pm AEST06:10 | 3.10pm AEST06:10 |
| Melbourne Lord Mayor welcomes cancellation of Operation Fortitude | Melbourne Lord Mayor welcomes cancellation of Operation Fortitude |
| Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has just tweeted this update following the cancellation of the operation by Victoria police. | Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has just tweeted this update following the cancellation of the operation by Victoria police. |
| Operation Fortitude cancelled in the City. Good decision by @VictoriaPolice. | Operation Fortitude cancelled in the City. Good decision by @VictoriaPolice. |
| The Community and Public Sector Union has also released a statement on the Australian Border Force. They’re concerned because members have contacted them to express alarm at the politicised nature of the operation: | The Community and Public Sector Union has also released a statement on the Australian Border Force. They’re concerned because members have contacted them to express alarm at the politicised nature of the operation: |
| The union representing Australian Border Force workers has welcomed news that Operation Fortitude will not go ahead. The union was contacted by border force members who raised concerns their safety would have been compromised by the publicity surrounding this operation. | The union representing Australian Border Force workers has welcomed news that Operation Fortitude will not go ahead. The union was contacted by border force members who raised concerns their safety would have been compromised by the publicity surrounding this operation. |
| CPSU National Secretary Nadine Flood said: “We have been contacted by border force members deeply concerned about the way their work has been politicised raising safety concerns about the public reaction.” | CPSU National Secretary Nadine Flood said: “We have been contacted by border force members deeply concerned about the way their work has been politicised raising safety concerns about the public reaction.” |
| While border force staff (formerly immigration) have been involved in these types of operations before, they have never been publicised in this way. They were deeply concerned at the suggestion they would be stopping all people on the street, which is not how their work has been done in the past. | While border force staff (formerly immigration) have been involved in these types of operations before, they have never been publicised in this way. They were deeply concerned at the suggestion they would be stopping all people on the street, which is not how their work has been done in the past. |
| Border force staff do important work stopping drug importation, targeting organised crime and terrorism. Making them a public target through this sort of hysteria is completely unacceptable. | Border force staff do important work stopping drug importation, targeting organised crime and terrorism. Making them a public target through this sort of hysteria is completely unacceptable. |
| This high-profile approach has come as a major shock for border force staff who are frequently instructed not to wear their uniforms in public due to safety concerns. | This high-profile approach has come as a major shock for border force staff who are frequently instructed not to wear their uniforms in public due to safety concerns. |
| Their work is challenging under most circumstances but this adds another and unnecessary layer of difficulty to an already taxing task. | Their work is challenging under most circumstances but this adds another and unnecessary layer of difficulty to an already taxing task. |
| We are calling on the federal government to stop cynically exploiting the work of the Australian Border Force for its own political ends, potentially putting these officers at risk. | We are calling on the federal government to stop cynically exploiting the work of the Australian Border Force for its own political ends, potentially putting these officers at risk. |
| Updated at 3.22pm AEST | Updated at 3.22pm AEST |
| 3.06pm AEST06:06 | 3.06pm AEST06:06 |
| The protesters at Flinders Street station are speaking now with my colleague Melissa Davey on Periscope. You can follow on here. | The protesters at Flinders Street station are speaking now with my colleague Melissa Davey on Periscope. You can follow on here. |
| Anti Australian Border Force protesters have claimed victory pic.twitter.com/ouCP0JDe9C | Anti Australian Border Force protesters have claimed victory pic.twitter.com/ouCP0JDe9C |
| One protester told Davey: “People who speak a second language are now not going to be harassed on trains tomorrow. It’s a fucking win, make some noise!” | One protester told Davey: “People who speak a second language are now not going to be harassed on trains tomorrow. It’s a fucking win, make some noise!” |
| Updated at 3.21pm AEST | Updated at 3.21pm AEST |
| 3.03pm AEST06:03 | 3.03pm AEST06:03 |
| As a point of historical reference, readers may be interested to learn that Operation Fortitude was also the codename for a key operation in the Normandy landings in 1944 that led to the end of the second world war. | As a point of historical reference, readers may be interested to learn that Operation Fortitude was also the codename for a key operation in the Normandy landings in 1944 that led to the end of the second world war. |
| The namesake led by the Australian Border Force and the Victorian police does not have quite the historical import, but no doubt will be remembered for other reasons. | The namesake led by the Australian Border Force and the Victorian police does not have quite the historical import, but no doubt will be remembered for other reasons. |
| Updated at 3.23pm AEST | Updated at 3.23pm AEST |
| 3.00pm AEST06:00 | 3.00pm AEST06:00 |
| To put things in perspective, this is an excellent Tweet from Will Ockenden that shows just how quickly events moved today: | To put things in perspective, this is an excellent Tweet from Will Ockenden that shows just how quickly events moved today: |
| 10:14am #OperationFortitude announced 12:54pm ABF Clarification 2:26pm Presser cancelled 2:40pm Operation cancelled | 10:14am #OperationFortitude announced 12:54pm ABF Clarification 2:26pm Presser cancelled 2:40pm Operation cancelled |
| Updated at 3.23pm AEST | Updated at 3.23pm AEST |
| 2.59pm AEST05:59 | 2.59pm AEST05:59 |
| The announcement of Operation Fortitude sparked some pretty reasonable questions about what the powers of Australian Border Force officers and police really are and what kind of information they can demand. | |
| Here’s an explainer I prepared earlier of the six key points you need to know: | Here’s an explainer I prepared earlier of the six key points you need to know: |
| 1. Do I need to hand over identification if a police officer asks me for it?Police powers vary from state to state, but in Victoria under the Crimes Act 1958 the police generally cannot require an individual to provide identification unless they believe, on reasonable grounds, that they have committed or are suspected of committing an offence, or if they can assist in the investigation of an offence. | |
| If police request your identification, they must provide reasons for their belief to allow you to understand the type of offence and the grounds for their belief. | If police request your identification, they must provide reasons for their belief to allow you to understand the type of offence and the grounds for their belief. |
| In New South Wales the police have similar powers. Police can request identification of an unknown person if they suspect on reasonable grounds a person can assist in the investigation of an offence because they were at or near the location where an offence was alleged to have occurred. | In New South Wales the police have similar powers. Police can request identification of an unknown person if they suspect on reasonable grounds a person can assist in the investigation of an offence because they were at or near the location where an offence was alleged to have occurred. |
| 2. What kind of information are police entitled to ask for?In Victoria police can only ask for your name and address when conducting an identification check. In NSW the phrase identity means “the name or residential address of the person (or both)”. | |
| 3. Can police ask for my visa status?There is no specific power that would compel a person to provide information about their visa status to police. | |
| Updated at 3.25pm AEST | |
| 2.56pm AEST05:56 | 2.56pm AEST05:56 |
| Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has just announced she will hold a press conference to discuss the cancellation of the Australian Border Force press conference. | |
| She is scheduled to speak at 3:30pm AEST. | |
| Updated at 3.25pm AEST | |
| 2.55pm AEST05:55 | 2.55pm AEST05:55 |
| More people are now rallying and have entered Flinders Street station to continue to protest. | |
| Protest at Flinders pic.twitter.com/ynQuRTvZ9f | Protest at Flinders pic.twitter.com/ynQuRTvZ9f |
| "We shut them up. They're not having their press conference. We're claiming victory" - anti Australian Border Force protesters | "We shut them up. They're not having their press conference. We're claiming victory" - anti Australian Border Force protesters |
| Updated at 3.26pm AEST | |
| 2.51pm AEST05:51 | 2.51pm AEST05:51 |
| There are now more than 250 protesters in Melbourne who have gathered to protest the Australian Border Force and the operation that was scheduled to go ahead this weekend. | |
| They're here now. #OperationFortitude pic.twitter.com/7w5ZaBx1bJ | They're here now. #OperationFortitude pic.twitter.com/7w5ZaBx1bJ |
| It's just been announced the #BorderForce press conference has been cancelled #abcnews #lateline pic.twitter.com/GzMyoPx1HT | It's just been announced the #BorderForce press conference has been cancelled #abcnews #lateline pic.twitter.com/GzMyoPx1HT |
| The protesters are chanting their opposition to the ABF, and are now cheering at the decision to cancel the event. | The protesters are chanting their opposition to the ABF, and are now cheering at the decision to cancel the event. |
| My colleague Melissa Davey is at Flinders Street Station and is now Periscoping the protest. | |
| Updated at 3.27pm AEST | |
| 2.45pm AEST05:45 | 2.45pm AEST05:45 |
| Operation Fortitude now cancelled | Operation Fortitude now cancelled |
| Well, that was a very short-lived police operation. Victoria police have now just sent out another release after the confusion surrounding Operation Fortitude this weekend. | Well, that was a very short-lived police operation. Victoria police have now just sent out another release after the confusion surrounding Operation Fortitude this weekend. |
| They said on Facebook that this decision was taken due in part to a “high level of community interest” in the operation. | They said on Facebook that this decision was taken due in part to a “high level of community interest” in the operation. |
| Here’s the full statement: | Here’s the full statement: |
| Victoria Police has made a decision not to go ahead with this weekend’s Operation Fortitude. | Victoria Police has made a decision not to go ahead with this weekend’s Operation Fortitude. |
| We understand there has been a high level of community interest and concern which has been taken into consideration when making this decision. | We understand there has been a high level of community interest and concern which has been taken into consideration when making this decision. |
| Victoria Police’s priority is the safety and wellbeing of the whole community and we will continue to work with our partner agencies to achieve this. | Victoria Police’s priority is the safety and wellbeing of the whole community and we will continue to work with our partner agencies to achieve this. |
| Updated at 2.59pm AEST | Updated at 2.59pm AEST |
| 2.42pm AEST05:42 | 2.42pm AEST05:42 |
| Confusion over Australian border force press conference | Confusion over Australian border force press conference |
| As the protest at Flinders St station grows, we’ve now had completely conflicting comments from Victoria police about whether or not the press conference will go ahead. | As the protest at Flinders St station grows, we’ve now had completely conflicting comments from Victoria police about whether or not the press conference will go ahead. |
| Victoria police initially tweeted it was no longer being held, but Crikey reporter Josh Taylor heard otherwise. | Victoria police initially tweeted it was no longer being held, but Crikey reporter Josh Taylor heard otherwise. |
| Please be advised that the Operation Fortitude media opportunity has been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience. | Please be advised that the Operation Fortitude media opportunity has been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience. |
| The event is not cancelled, Victoria Police tells me. It'll be inside Flinders St station now. #OperationFortitude | The event is not cancelled, Victoria Police tells me. It'll be inside Flinders St station now. #OperationFortitude |
| Updated at 2.59pm AEST | Updated at 2.59pm AEST |
| 2.39pm AEST05:39 | 2.39pm AEST05:39 |
| Good afternoon, and welcome to our coverage of the protests that are capping off what has been a very unfortunate day for the Australian Border Borce (ABF). | |
| Earlier on Friday, Australia’s newest super agency, which is a composite of immigration and customs, set out their plans for a major operation in Melbourne’s CBD. | |
| The release took on the heavy-handed tone that has become increasingly common in immigration and border protection matters, with the ABF regional commander, Don Smith, saying that officers “will be positioned at various locations around the CBD speaking with any individual we cross paths with”. | |
| It added that: “You need to be aware of the conditions of your visa; if you commit visa fraud you should know it’s only a matter of time before you’re caught out.” | |
| Although it did not say so expressly, the announcement drew immediate concerns that it would lead to widespread spot-checks of visas in the city. | |
| A protest is now occurring at Flinders Street station where a press conference was due to be held. | |
| Updated at 3.29pm AEST |