AUSSIE CRACKDOWN UNCOVERS LABOUR HIRE RACKET

MELBOURNE, March 12 (Bernama) -- A major immigration compliance operation
executed across three states this week has uncovered an alleged labour hire and
identity fraud racket targeting the meat industry.

Australia's Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans,
said that immigration officials, supported by the Australian federal, state law
enforcement and other government agencies, conducted a series of raids on
residential and business premises in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

"The department's investigators had received information from a number
of sources about a labour hire intermediary who was allegedly bringing Chinese
foreign workers into Australia to be employed in meatworks unlawfully," Evans
said in a statement.

He said the racket involved using fraudulent identities to gain employment
for people without permission to work in Australia.

"The department believes up to 100 illegal workers are involved in the
racket," he said.

Evans said as a result of the raids, a person of interest who was believed
to be the main organiser, has been identified and a large amount of evidence,
including fraudulent passports, has been seized.

"Further investigations into possible breaches of the Migration Act,
Passports Act and criminal offences relating to identity fraud are continuing.

"Warrants were executed in Melbourne and Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Warrnambool,
Scone, Kilcoy and Beenleigh.

"So far, more than 30 people have been located working in breach of their
visa conditions or not holding a valid visa," he said.
-- BERNAMA