Operation Nets Illegals in the Riverina Area of NSW
Media Release - DPS 39/2002
Four people are in immigration detention following a joint compliance operation in the Riverina area of NSW this week. The operation involved the ACT office of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) and NSW police.
Acting on community information, DIMIA officers and NSW police visited various premises in Leeton and Narrandera and detained four male Fiji nationals. They had either expired visas or were working in breach of visa conditions.
Two of the people were footballers who were sponsored by clubs in the area. Under the terms of sports visa sponsorships, clubs are required to fully support the overseas players they sponsor. Players are not to undertake outside employment to support themselves.
The people who remain in immigration detention will be moved to the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney while arrangements are made for their departure from Australia, as required by law.
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 2000-01, 14,238 people were located by DIMIA. This includes people unlawfully in Australia who were found working in breach of their visa conditions as well as people who were unlawfully in the country.
21 June 2002
Media inquiries: Public Affairs 02 6264 2244