IMMIGRATION operations in two states have uncovered 18 illegal farm and horticulture workers, Federal Immigration Minister Senator Chris Evans said today.
In Victoria, immigration officers, with the assistance of Sale police, went “above and beyond” to locate 13 illegal workers, Senator Evans said.
“Compliance officers climbed into the roof space of a house to find some of the 13 foreign nationals living in two houses in the town of Sale,” he said.
“Fortunately, the illegal workers’ ingenuity was matched by our team’s agility and tenacity.”
In Perth, compliance officers seeking illegal harvest workers located five unlawful non-citizens working illegally in the horticulture industry.
The four men and one woman – all Malaysians – located in the Perth suburb of Balga were detained pending removal arrangements. Some of the workers, who were all located early yesterday, have already been removed from Australia.
In 2008-09, there were 990 people located while working in Australia illegally.
In the Victorian operation, a mother and daughter, a father and son and two brothers were among nine men and four women found at two residential addresses in the one Sale street.
It was the second such operation in Sale in the past three months, taking to 23 the number of illegal farm workers found in this eastern Victorian town.
Ten unlawful non-citizens and three people working in breach of visa conditions were located. All were taken to the Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre. Some are expected to be removed from Australia shortly, while three face visa cancellations.
The 13 comprised nine Indonesians, three Malaysians and one Chinese foreign national. When a compliance team arrived at one address, officers observed the lights were on and food was cooking. The lights went out and the house fell silent before officers entered to find four Indonesians. They then climbed into the roof space, where they discovered five more Indonesians.
On January 27 in Sale, officers located 10 Malaysian nationals, also illegal farm workers. Six left Australia a week later while the rest were given notice their visas may be cancelled.
Employers convicted of illegal worker offences face fines of up to $13 200 and/or two years’ imprisonment per illegal worker. Companies face fines of up to $66,000 per illegal worker.
Information about a person living or working illegally in Australia can be reported to the immigration department by phoning the dob-in line on 1800 009 623.
