Illegal fruit pickers deported
Article from: AAP
February 26, 2010 06:06am
A GROUP of 76 illegal workers busted fruit picking in northern Victoria have been deported back to Malaysia and Indonesia after a mass immigration operation.
The 63 Malaysians and 13 Indonesians were flown home last night - the largest mass removal of illegal workers from Australia this decade, the Government said.
They were nabbed during a raid on a caravan park last week in Mooroopna, just west of Shepparton, where they had been working illegally picking tomatoes and pears.
Eighty-five people were caught, with arrangements being made to deport the remaining nine workers - five Malaysians, three Koreans and a Nepalese person.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the 85 had entered Australia with valid visas before taking on the illegal work.
He praised the work of the immigration department.
"The fact that within the space of nine days these people have been located, detained and removed from Australia demonstrates the government's commitment to stamping out illegal work," Senator Evans said today.
He said employers faced fines of up to $13,200 and two years' imprisonment for hiring people with no work rights.
Companies can be docked $66,000 per illegal worker.
