Immigration Operations Net 42 in Country Victoria

Forty-two people are in immigration detention following operations in Northern Victoria, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) said today.

Between 11 and 15 October, with the assistance of Victorian Police, DIMIA officers from Victoria and the ACT visited sites in the Victorian towns of Robinvale, Swan Hill, Piangil, Beverford, Wodonga and Namurkah. The visits targeted the agricultural industry, restaurants and residential addresses.

A DIMIA spokesperson said community information led to the location of the 42 people. Twenty-six people had overstayed their visas and the remaining 16 were working in breach of their visa conditions.

They are now in immigration detention where arrangements will be made for their removal from Australia, as required by law.

The 31 men and 11 women are from Malaysia (35), Vietnam (2) Thailand (2), The People’s Republic of China (2) and Indonesia (1).

'In the 2003-04 financial year the department located over 20 000 people who had overstayed their visas or breached their visa conditions,’ the spokesperson said.

'People with information on illegal workers or visas overstayers should call the Immigration Dob-In-Line on 1800 009 623.’