Is this the start of the Brown Shirts appearing on the steets?, page-72

No it wasn't. The point of the exercise is clear as day...it was to harass and frighten people and make it appear that the Abbott government is protecting us in the hope of winning a few votes.
Idiot Shorten even supported it initially for the same reason...he thought it would be a vote winner....until it became clear many people were horrified by this proposed action and he then dropped his support.
I bet Tony wishes he could back-track as easily, from this latest foolish and unpopular move by his government.
Dave R.