Overstayers and illegal workers

Letter to the Editor - Burnie Advocate
25 June 2004

Dear Sir/Madam

Regarding visa overstayers, Joan Cortez-Baird (Immigration concerns, 25/6/04) should be aware of the following.

Most people currently in immigration detention are visa overstayers and illegal workers, including citizens of European countries.

These people were mainly located by departmental compliance officers who routinely make regular visits to workplaces in many parts of Australia, including restaurants, farms, shops, offices, factories and brothels, in an effort to detect and locate people who are living or working illegally.

It might interest Ms Cortez-Baird that in the last financial year the Department located over 20,000 visa overstayers and illegal workers.

Roger Wheatley
Ag. Director
Public Affairs
DIMIA