That's true.
Here in Canberra we have had these 'radom carpark checks' for about 2 years now.
Basically, if you park in a public car park, then they'll have the right to check your tyres, lights, ride height, and they'll even look under the car with one of those mirors on a stick things.
I've watch them do it a heap of times, the only time they actually touch the car is to put a defect sticker on it, or a note to say your car has been inspected and everything is good.
A good 5-10 years ago Canberra got rid of the compolsorary yearly inspection when your rego was due, and from then on the number of unsafe cars going around has increased ten fold...
J