Poll: Should police be able to do random visa checks?
Vote now on the controversial plan – abandoned after a massive social media response – to do random visa checks in Melbourne's CBD.
By TESS IKONOMOU
The backlash continues over the failed Operation Fortitude – an attempt to carry out random visa checks in Melbourne's CBD, which was cancelled on the day it was announced after a massive social media reaction.
The Australian Border Force (ABF), in collaboration with other police agencies, planned to launch the operation over the weekend following August 28.
Victoria Police released a press release early that morning announcing a concentrated law enforcement operation in Melbourne's CBD.
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The statement has now been removed from the Victoria Police website, but was reported by the ABC and other media organisations.
It read: “The public transport system will be at its safest ... as a diverse team of transport and enforcement agencies take to the streets as a part of Operation Fortitude.”
The ABF regional commander for Victoria and Tasmania said in the statement: “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.”
Hundreds of vocal protesters took to the streets and rallied outside Flinders Street Station after the press release whipped up a storm on social media.
The demonstrators were furious over what they saw as blatant racism.
Victoria Police issued a statement after the backlash, advising the public the program had been cancelled.
“Victoria Police has made a decision not to go ahead with this weekend's Operation Fortitude,” the statement said.
“We understand there has been a high level of community interest and concern which has been taken into consideration when making this decision.”
The ABF later said it had had no intention of stopping people at random for visa checks, and that the original press release had been "clumsily worded" and "misconstrued".
The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton has been left embarrassed by the collapse of the operation and the confusion surrounding it.
A spokeswoman from the Minister’s office told The Australian that the operation had been primarily targeted at the taxi industry.
Results of our same-sex marriage poll
The results are in: You had your say on whether the Australian Government should legalise same sex marriage and how they should do it.
This week we had some close numbers with 40 per cent of voters believing we should allow a conscience vote for all parties and 30 per cent thinking a referendum is the best way to go.
20 per cent of voters said the Australian government should hold a plebiscite and a small number of Australians believe same sex marriage should not be legalised – holding only 10 per cent of the votes.
