The Coalition government has announced a crackdown on 457 visa fraud, with up to 100 employers to be investigated over allegations they sponsored applications in return for payment, Assistant Immigration Minister Michaelia Cash announced yesterday.
Senator Cash said the compliance campaign involved an "initial assessment" of the 100 sponsors, but also had an educational component — Work visa scams. Don't pay the price — targeting both employers and visa holders. The Minister said sponsors identified as having failed to meet their obligations could face administrative sanctions, infringement notices, enforceable undertakings or Federal Court civil penalty applications. "A business that sponsors a visa holder under false pretences may also be committing other offences, such as providing false or misleading information or engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct," she said. "Visa holders who enter into contrived employment relationships for migration purposes may also be guilty of fraud related offences and/or not meet immigration requirements, including the genuineness criterion." The Minister said a "small minority" of those involved in migration programs attempted to defraud them or did not abide by their obligations. The immigration department already has a dob-in service that enables the public to report in person, online, or by phone, fax or mail.
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