The Victorian branch of the Australian Federation of International Students (AFIS) read with concern the damning Herald Sun report on the excessive use of force by Connex ticket inspectors in Melbourne, dated Friday 24 August 2009.

“AFIS Victoria receives word now and then from international students of abusive ticket inspectors employed by either transport operators. Some of the methods employed by these inspectors’ are questionable in any civil and respectable society and are obviously not even endorsed by the wider Australian public,” said AFIS’ Victoria President Darren Li.

“These officers must realise that they operate in a city set on the world stage – actions such as these inch Melbourne further into the negative spotlight that has already been cast and is another blemish against the reputation of Australia as a safe and friendly destination for international students.”

AFIS believes that it is critical to appreciate the consequences of such excessive action through the lens of an international student.

“While we recognise that manhandling is only an occasional occurrence, what you often see is a group of three to five inspectors crowding in on one offender. To some international students, this is reminiscent of the hostile, thuggish manner of enforcement that had been supposedly left behind when the choice was made to study in Australia.

“This fosters the distrust of authorities such as the police, and is disastrously counteractive to the collaborative effort engaged between AFIS, Victoria Police, and many other organisations.”

AFIS contends that Victorian transport operators need to work with government and organisations such as AFIS to assess and educate their officers on ethical and culturally appropriate behaviour.

See the full report “Connex ticket inspects accused of assault at Southern Cross station”, available on the Herald Sun’s website at http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25827157-2862,00.html