2015-10-19
The Australian Greens have reiterated their concerns about the ongoing militarisation of the Immigration Department, saying an apology for the Australian Border Force's bungled Operation Fortitude has come far too late.
"This farce just goes to show why the government's obsession with militarising the Immigration Department is unnecessary and dangerous," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
"While I welcome the apology, it is clearly too little and it has come far too late.
"Australian Border Force is a brutish, aggressive and entirely unnecessary rebranding of the Immigration Department. It's just more propaganda in the government's political war against foreigners and should be reversed before we see more of these ridiculous mistakes."
Member for Melbourne and Greens' MP Adan Bandt said, "I am so proud of Melburnians and our values.
"Within hours of Border Force saying they were going to station their officers around the CBD, asking questions and demanding the papers of any individual they cross paths, Melburnians ran their ugly politics of division out of town.
"By rallying together, Melburnians showed we are a welcoming city, not a place where people can be stopped on the streets because they're suspected of being a foreigner."
Media Contacts
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760
Adam Bandt MP: Adam Pulford 0429 709 054