Vineyard workers were illegal: Vanstone
The Age
August 24, 2006 – 8:00PM
Three men have been taken to Baxter detention centre after being found working illegally at South Australian vineyards.
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said a tip-off had led officials to a property at Penola, in the state's south-east.
Their apprehension brings to 12 the number of unlawful workers caught in the region in the past three weeks.
Senator Vanstone said two of the men, an Indonesian and a Malaysian, had overstayed their visas.
A third man, also a Malaysian, was working in breach of visa conditions. His visa had since been cancelled, she said.
“The group is being transferred to Baxter immigration detention facility where arrangements will be made for their removal from Australia,” Senator Vanstone said in a statement.
“It is believed the group had been working on vineyards in the area.”
Senator Vanstone urged employers who had doubts about their employees' entitlement to work to call the immigration department (DIMA).
“DIMA officers, often with assistance from state police, make regular visits to workplaces in many parts of Australia, including restaurants, farms, shops, offices, factories and brothels, in an effort to detect and locate people who are in the country illegally or who are working illegally,” she said.
“These men were found thanks to invaluable information from the community.”
