Imposter Providing False Information About Immigration
Media Release - DPS 48/2002
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) has launched an investigation into a person allegedly posing as a Commonwealth officer in the Sunraysia area.
DIMIA instigated the investigation after receiving information that a person was posing as a departmental employee and had been providing false and misleading information in the Sunraysia district about opportunities for illegal workers to change their work status.
Individual growers and community-based groups have reported that the woman has allegedly made claims that people in Australia illegally or without permission to work can have their status changed and obtain work by registering with her scheme.
"There have been no changes of this sort to migration law and there are no such changes planned in the immediate future," a DIMIA spokesperson said.
"People in Australia on a temporary basis can only work legally if they hold a valid visa and if that visa carries no condition restricting their employment."
The Department takes the issue of visa compliance and illegal workers very seriously - an operation last weekend in the Sunraysia area found 14 people working in breach of their visas.
Acting on community information, DIMIA officers visited various premises in Mildura, Irymple and Robinvale. Three males were placed into immigration detention and were transferred to the Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre in Melbourne before their departure from Australia. The remaining eleven people were issued with Bridging visas enabling them to make arrangements to depart Australia.
In 2001-02, 17,307 people were located by DIMIA either working in breach of their visa conditions or in Australia unlawfully.
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.
On 5 June 2002 staff from DIMIA's Melbourne Business Centre met with representatives from business, industry, educational institutions, State and local government from Mildura and surrounding areas at an information session in Mildura. The session provided information and advice on Temporary Residence options for people in Australia.
People who are unsure about the information they are receiving or about the person providing the information are advised to contact DIMIA or a Migrant Resource Centre.
31 July 2002
Media inquiries: Public Affairs 02 6264 2244