Illegal Workers Located in Dareton Region, NSW

Immigration compliance officers have located 16 illegal workers and a visa overstayer as part of a three-day NSW Police-led operation in the NSW-Victoria border region near Dareton.

While police were targeting illegal drugs in the area in the February 19-21 operation, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) performed visa checks on people of interest, along with conducting its own compliance operations on nearby businesses and farms.

In a check on a farm in Euston, NSW, 13 Malaysian nationals - 10 men and three women - were located yesterday and found to be unlawful non-citizens.

Two Chinese men were located working illegally in businesses in Mildura, Victoria, on February 20. A Sri Lankan man was also located working illegally but was released on a bridging visa to depart Australia. On February 19 a Samoan woman was located in a residential visit in the Mildura region. She was also granted a bridging visa to depart Australia.

A DIAC spokesman said these routine operations highlighted a commitment to combating illegal workers and visa overstayers. All of those not released on bridging visas have been taken to Villawood Immigration Detention Center where arrangements will be made for their removal from Australia.

DIAC officers, often with assistance from state police 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.

‘It is the responsibility of employers to ensure they only hire people with the right to work in Australia,’ the spokesman said. ‘Illegal worker warning notices will be issued to the supermarket, restaurants and farm owner, who will also be investigated for possible employer sanctions action. Employers convicted under this legislation face fines of up to $13 200 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $66 000 per illegal worker.

‘DIAC provides a range of services for employers to check work rights, including the Employer Work Rights Checking Information Line, a free-call centralized Employer Work Rights Fax-back Facility and the Internet-based work rights checking service called Entitlements Verification Online.’

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