NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says he would need a "heck of a lot of convincing" before he would ever consider an Operation Fortitude-like visa crackdown on the streets of Sydney.
Last Friday, Victorian Police cancelled a join operation with the Australian Border Force that was to target potential visa fraudsters in the heart of Melbourne following a public backlash.
For the first time officers from the federal government's new paramilitary unit were to join transport officials and police to target crime among people "travelling to, from and around the CBD", in a measure dubbed Operation Fortitude.
In a budget estimates hearing at NSW Parliament House on Thursday, Mr Scipione said he had not received any approaches to run a similar operation in Sydney.
He said he could not entirely rule out agreeing to such an operation but it was "highly unlikely" he would co-operate.
"If I was to receive [an approach], I would need a heck of a lot of convincing," Mr Scipione told the hearing. "I would need some mighty strong convincing before I would even consider doing anything like that."
ABF commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg has argued a news release about the operation issued by his agency was "clumsily worded" and mischaracterised the paramilitary agency's role in the operation.
The statement said officers would be positioned "at various locations around the CBD speaking with any individual we cross paths with … if you commit visa fraud you should know it's only a matter of time before you're caught out".
The quotes were attributed to Don Smith, Border Force regional commander for Victoria and Tasmania.
The statement was widely interpreted to mean the Border Force would be stopping people for random immigration checks.
The agency later clarified it would check the visas of people "referred to us" by police and other agencies involved in the operation.
Deputy Premier and Police Minister Troy Grant said he would not "speculate" on whether he would be in favour of NSW police being involved in an Operation Fortitude-style operation.
It prompted Greens MP David Shoebridge to ask the minister if he was leaving open the option for a joint operation with the Australian Border Force to "screen the public for their immigration status".
"I only ever make a decision on the evidence and information brought before me, and then I consult with the experts," Mr Grant replied.
Last week, Mr Grant was asked if Sydney could expect to host such joint operations in future. He said the Border Force "already engages in NSW … so it's just Victoria catching up".
After the operation was cancelled, Mr Grant's office clarified that he was referring only to joint raids of premises such as brothels that have been carried out by NSW Police and immigration officials for many years.
with Nicole Hasham
