Illegal workers located in Robinvale
Media Release - 8 March 2008
Immigration compliance officers have detained 13 people in regional Victoria for being unlawfully in Australia.
They included six Malaysians and six Vietnamese who had been working illegally on local farms and a British national, all in Robinvale.
They have been transferred to the Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre in Melbourne and will be assessed for return to their home countries if they have no further claims to remain in Australia.
The location of the illegal workers on March 3-4 closely follows another successful operation last month in which Immigration compliance officers located 17 workers in breach of immigration regulations in the Dareton region.
A Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) spokesman said compliance operations highlighted the Australian Government’s commitment to combating illegal workers and visa overstayers.
‘Immigration compliance officers make regular visits to workplaces and properties in many parts of Australia in an effort to detect and locate people who are in the country illegally or who are working illegally,’ the spokesman said. ‘DIAC also often works with other government agencies such as state and federal police, the Australian Taxation Office, the Department of Justice and Centrelink as a part of a whole-of-government strategy on compliance with Australian laws.’
The department also provides a range of services for employers to check work rights, including the Employer Work Rights Checking Information Line, a free-call centralised Employer Work Rights Fax-back Facility and the Internet-based work rights checking service called Visa Entitlements Verification Online.
‘It is the responsibility of employers to ensure they only hire people with the right to work in Australia,’ the spokesman said. ‘Employers convicted of breaching the legislation face stiff penalties including fines of up to $13 200 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $66 000 per illegal worker,’ he added.
People with information on visa overstayers or illegal workers should call the Immigration Dob-In Line on 1800 009 623.
Media Enquiries: National Communications 02 6264 2244