Successful Compliance Operation in Sydney's West
Media Release - DPS 22/2002
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) said today that 15 people have been located working illegally in Chullora in Sydney's West.
Staff from DIMIA located 12 people in Australia unlawfully and three people working in breach of their visa conditions at a factory in Chullora on 10 and 11 April.
The 15 people detained included 14 men and one woman. Of the 15 people detained, six were from the Russian Federation, four from Tonga (including one woman), two from Fiji, two from Nepal and one from Ghana.
They will stay in detention while the Department makes arrangements for their departure from Australia, as required by law. Immigration law requires that where a person has no legal right to remain in Australia they be removed as early as practicable.
DIMIA officers visited the Chullora factory to conduct field inquiries in relation to people in Australia illegally as a result of information received from the community and other Government agencies.
DIMIA officers make regular visits to workplaces in many parts of Australia, such as restaurants, farms, shops, offices, factories and brothels, in an effort to detect and locate people who are in the country illegally or who are working illegally. DIMIA may also issue warning notices to employers or labour suppliers who are found to have employed illegal workers.
In 2000-2001, 14,238 people were located by DIMIA. This includes people lawfully in Australia who were found working in breach of their visa conditions as well as people who were unlawfully in the country.
22 April 2002
For more information contact DIMIA Public Affairs,
02 6264 2244
(AH) 0419 442 000