bureaucratic coughry

[Scott K]

Actually the food was decidedly ordinary and it was a few years back when Mollymook was still pretty new as his restaurant.

Much like how I feel about his television shows.

 

[OATEK]

I am serious....and don't call me Shirley...

Actually, the bus to Shirley goes past our front door!

 

[ethernet]

Years of Court experience - Remember this.
If you are ever interrogated / questioned - do not rush the answer. Quick is not smart.

I have seen Barristers in the dock answering fast, because they do not want to seen looking dumb/retarded. Big mistake. Take your time to think, then answer.
If you do not understand the question, ask for it to be repeated. Ask for the context if a correct and honest answer does not work, ask them to rephrase the question accurately. If they ask the same question 29 times (as happened in Israel) remind them of the count if you have a keen memory. They usually follow the alternate question line, hoping your answers will deviate. However if you are innocent and tell the truth, its real easy for you, and they should see they are wasting precious resources.

It is not wise to mention you can read your interrogators - such as their pulse, bloodpressure, facial flushes as many professional legal negotiators can, or point out that spot looks like a melanoma.

In this case I believe the Minister is unaware of wasteful and inefficient interrogations, most likely drafted around LCD/ LCIQ and scripted procedures. In Israel the security people DID have the authority and empowerment to move on, and honored their promise to patch up the missed flight issues. Write to Borderforce in 6 months time and ask have procedures been changed in light of this feedback.

 

[ethernet]

I agree that process is important. And that ANAO report shows that the government is very carefully managing/reviewing the whole thing.

But I still feel you are not comparing apples with apples. In those "inappropriate" cases the officers were simply past their refresher training, in most cases by only weeks. The usage of the term "inappropriate" is an arbitrary word which was specifically used in a certain way by the ANAO within this exercise, but they were speaking in that, an internal way, within an administrative assesment. My point was that the term is, very understandably so, taken as something much more negatively when read by other people.

The official Border Force response goes further in this regard - they explicitly sought to express and clarify that the "breaches" as identified in the report were "in the category of inadvertent and administrative breaches as opposed to deliberate and intentional breaches".

For the record, I was an absolute stickler in the police. I only ever "lost" one case, where the star witness had a change of heart (literally - love is a powerful thing). I was proud of my reputation, not as an egoistical thing, but because of my internal total belief in fairness and justice. And I not only understood the need for best-possible integrity of the system, but I also devoted most of my career there to instill those same principles in new coppers.

It is perhaps because of that experience that I argue in threads like this. In the real world things are complicated, the pursuit of perfection is ideal but it is so very hard. So I like the focus to be on what I percieve as the true issues.

If the same sort of audit was conducted within, say, the Ambulance Service, the equivalent would be to find that a percentage of paramedics had performed CPR when they had missed their 2-yearly CPR requal by a couple of weeks. Thus their saving of the patient would have actually occurred during an "inappropriate attendance".

I am all for procedures, of never letting go on that drive for ever improved practices. Those protocols are there for good reasons. But please let us recognize the whole picture, and not taint people trying to do the best job they can.

Tricky to respond. I would say cutting staff costs /payroll / overtime is now THE priority.
When they say costs are 'unsustainable' they really mean inadequate budget, so quality is about to go to shirt. Many procedures are based on dumbing down everything so lower paid less experienced workers can in theory(MBA speak) do the job (no price is placed as a cost to the other party). Case Management / Escalation procedures and Administrative appeals. Think CentreLink/Robodebt and even ATO having too few superannuation experts.

You can only cut so much. White spot prawns and TR3 Banana rust demonstrate reckless cowboys at the helm, and spineless sycophants in running Borderfarse.

 

[DC3]

ATA could easily get a mention the way this thread is going.

 

[love_the_life]

Depends on the environment. I'm thinking in the context of the comment you quoted, Madam is a title, therefore a proper noun, therefore capitalised; as you have done. The original quote is not capitalised, hence one could conclude that it is actually a job description...

Lol - I had managed to keep my real job quiet till that post.

 

[Throwaway2019]

Hi all, what an interesting thread... Long term lurker and reader...

I have worked for the the Australian Border Force (Customs/DIBP before the mergers) for over 10 years and have worked in several areas intel/airport related.

If you've got any questions, fire away. Obviously I have to use discretion, but you would be surprised what publicly available information I can link you all to.

In terms of this thread, I'm surprised no-one actually picked up on the real reason the OP's relative was talked to on outwards...

Clear as day she was on outwards alert (not a random "cold target" or "hunch") not because she was suspected of committing a crime... But because the indicators present and her demographics presented a heightened risk for love scams/couriering.

Think of the indicators:
* Individual traveller / travelling alone
* Older/over 60
* Short term booking (possible her PNR was recut due to the cancellation giving the appearance her travel was booked the day before travel)

Throw in a few other possibles (recent money transfers to Australia from the US and/or recent issue passport and/someone else booked her ticket (possible family member in another country) and it is easy to become the outlier unknowingly.

Targeting the deadly consequences of romance fraud
Online fraud and scams
Australian 'love-scam' victim wins appeal after 5 years in Cambodian jail
Don’t let love online turn into gaol time - Australian Border Force Newsroom

To clarify the OPs statement regarding the interaction, the reason the officers would have been looking through every scrap of paper, note, email, SMS (if she consented to unlocking her phone) is that often in these love scams (prize scams) the couriers/victims are extremely well coached to not tell anyone. Often the individual will only have a hotel address and a phone number.

Additionally, the ABF has no legal power to stop people leaving the country in these instances and we have seen on several occasions when we 100% know they are being scammed (money flows are the big give away) but people are too deluded/in love/heartbroken from previous trauma to wake up to reality when they're about to travel...

To the OP - When the ABF receives these kinds of referrals, the officers are doing their best to sensitivity and discretely a) assess the risks and information at hand and b) get them on their way if there isn't any evidence found.

ABF is in a lose/lose position about love/prize scams - we either intervene and try and expose how they've been manipulated or let them go through without a warning and risk getting criticised in the media later when an individual is arrested in a foreign country or on their return to Australia with their "gifts" and "prizes".

Occasionally while several indicators are present and someone is referred for assessment/examination, nothing is found. That's life. Outliers can often easily be explained but are not clear with the information at hand.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi Throwaway and welcome to AFF!

Thanks for your informative post.

 

[Throwaway2019]

Hi Throwaway and welcome to AFF!

Thanks for your informative post.

No worries. Not here to argue the performance of the ABF, but there is plenty of open source information about operational processes - you'd be surprised what's out there...

For example: Passenger Name Records (PNR data) Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Audit Report| Office of the Australian Information Commissioner - OAIC

Role of the Passenger Analysis Unit
2.10 One border protection activity undertaken by Customs and Border Protection's is its pre-arrival risk assessment of passengers travelling to or in transit through Australia.

2.11Pre-arrival risk assessment aims to prevent terrorism and related crimes and other serious crimes that are transnational in nature, such as money laundering, drugs importation, weapons trafficking and people smuggling/trafficking.

2.12The PAU in Customs and Border Protection conducts pre-arrival assessments of passengers using PNR data and other advance passenger information. The PAU also responds to requests for PNR data from other areas of Customs and Border Protection (internal requests) and from other agencies, such as the AFP (external requests). These internal and external requests for PNR data are referred to as ‘Requests For Information' or RFIs.

2.13The PNR data is information about airline passengers that is held by airlines on their computer reservation system and departure control system. PNR data includes such information as:

• PNR locator code
• passenger name(s)
• passport number
• nationality
• details of travel companions
• frequent flyer information
• ticketing information; date of reservation/issue of ticket; itinerary; alterations made to booking
• contacts; payments/billing; travel agent details
• special request/service information
• number of bags; weight of bags
• seat allocation.

2.14Customs and Border Protection PAU officers receive scheduled transmissions of EU sourced PNR data beginning at 72 hours before the scheduled departure of relevant flights. The PAU receives PNR data from over 30 airlines. PAU officers use this information, together with a range of other information (for example immigration, intelligence and other law enforcement data), to screen passengers prior to arrival to Australia and assist in identifying those passengers that may pose a risk at the time of arrival.

2.15 After analysis of advance passenger information and PNR data, the PAU may create a passenger alert in Customs and Border Protection's Passenger Analysis Clearance & Evaluation System (PACE). PACE is an electronic system that supports Customs and Border Protection's outcomes of facilitating the legitimate movement of people and the goods they bring across the border, while intercepting prohibited and restricted imports and exports and identifying illegal movements.

The above focuses on inwards and the inverse (outwards) more of less holds true...

The targeting area is not longer called the PAU. It later became the National Border Targeting Centre (NBTC) and is now the Border Intelligence Fusion Centre (BIFC):

Border Intelligence Fusion Centre | Australian National Audit Office

In 2016, the Border Intelligence Fusion Centre was established within the department to better identify potential threats across the border continuum. The centre brings together intelligence gathering and targeting functions that support border operations, including those functions that were previously delivered by the National Border Targeting Centre.

Through the operation of the centre, the department aims to enhance risk assessments of international passengers and cargo by improving access to analysis, coordination and sharing of border-related data; and collaborate with similar targeting centres in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Some other links:

https://archive.homeaffairs.gov.au/...uments/FOI/FA170400529-documents-released.pdf
https://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au...ideToAustraliasNationalSecurityCapability.doc


Box 1: Border Intelligence Fusion Centre The Border Intelligence Fusion Centre is an example of the use of departmental datasets concerned with Australia’s borders and the safety and security of the Australian community. Opened in July 2014, the 24/7 centre brings together a number of Commonwealth agencies and collaborates with similar targeting centres in the United States, Canada, Britain and New Zealand to share real-time intelligence on transnational threats.

The centre draws on the information and collective expertise of the Department and the: • Australian Federal Police • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation • Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission • Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade • Department of Agriculture • Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. Through sophisticated analysis of departmental pre-departure data and information held by other agencies and partners, the centre identifies passengers and cargo that present a threat to the Australian community in real-time. This capability supports holistic, intelligence-led intervention ahead of the border by collectively identifying national security threats, immigration risks and international criminal syndicate activities. This highly targeted capability has the added benefit of facilitating a seamless travel experience for the majority of genuine travellers and streamlined processing of low risk goods, which is critical in the context of exponential increases in passenger and trade volumes.

https://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/204878/sub168-data-access.pdf

 

[Hvr]

Australian Border Force accused of targeting women suspected of fleeing Saudi Arabia

Witnesses and activists have accused Australian Border Force officers of targeting Saudi Arabian women whom they suspect will apply for asylum and blocking them from entering the country when they arrive at Australian airports.

 

[get me outta here]

AND sending them back. I think this will be a very interesting story on 4 Corners tonight.

Australian Border Force accused of targeting women suspected of fleeing Saudi Arabia

 

[mrsterryn]

On one occasion when visiting the USA mrsdrron got the SSSS on her BP virtually any time.One TSA agent told her because there was an alert that the next terror attack was likely to be a Caucasian grandmother.Not sure if it was correct but certainly would explain her luck with the SSSS.

Looks like another granny has been selected

 

[Melburnian1]

As I have said before I have been stripped searched when transitting LHR.And I mean stripped not the Walled story of having to unbutton his jeans.No reason given.So it happens everywhere.

I had that occur at LAX many years ago. Confronting and made me feel very nervous when down to just a pair of jocks on, but I received an apology from a supervisor at the end. They were looking for illegal drugs, which I've never taken in my life. I assume as one travelling alone I was regarded as a possible mule.

 

[DC3]

The dreaded SSSS.

 

[mrsterryn]

There was a few women of my vintage interestingly selected

 

[N860CR]

Given this seems to be the best b***h about border force thread...

I was in line at the TRS recently and witnessed one of our finest “officers” unloading on a Chinese tourist who didn’t speak a word of English. I managed to get that she was trying to decipher if the goods were coming back into Australia. When not getting a response in English, the same condescending statements were yelled at the passenger along with charming statements like “well I hope you don’t declare it! We LOVE fining people”. Similar attitude for the next Chinese speaking passenger.

When I approached (white Caucasian male), the attitude was suddenly less aggressive and more professional.

It was so bad I lodged a complaint.

The response was quite literally “we’ve reviewed the CCTV, it didn’t happen” and “we’ve spoken to her and it didn’t happen”, “The incident you describe never happened”, “we’ve given you this response so we aren’t helping any further”.

Given the lack of accountability these people face, it’s little wonder they’re so out of control.