Immigration Dob in Line
Apr 6th 2004, 2:14 pm
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,149
Immigration Dob in Line
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...5E2702,00.html
Migrant dob line yet to nab first catch
By Paige Taylor
April 07, 2004
AN immigration dob-in line designed to catch visa overstayers and illegal workers has drawn few responses and is yet to claim its first scalp.
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone launched the dob-in line in a flurry of publicity and paid advertisements on February 19, but there were fewer than 50 calls referred to compliance officers in most states and territories after its first month of operation.
Although 2447 Australians called the dob-in line in its first month, only 494 were referred to compliance officers. Most callers had in fact used the dob-in line to contact the department with general inquiries, as it was staffed by "a real person", not answered by an electronic system.
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs was unaware yesterday of any arrests or prosecutions as a result of information received from callers.
In its first month, immigration compliance officers dealt with no calls to the dob-in line from the Northern Territory and just one call from Tasmania.
Opposition immigration spokesman Stephen Smith yesterday dismissed the freecall line as a failure.
He said Labor proposed a foreign workers ID card and would punish employers who knowingly and repeatedly hired illegal workers.
But Senator Vanstone said it was too early to judge the dob-in line.
"You have to give it a go," she said.
The dob-in line is modelled on Centrelink's Reportafraud freecall number, which saves the Government $3 million a fortnight in payments.
Migrant dob line yet to nab first catch
By Paige Taylor
April 07, 2004
AN immigration dob-in line designed to catch visa overstayers and illegal workers has drawn few responses and is yet to claim its first scalp.
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone launched the dob-in line in a flurry of publicity and paid advertisements on February 19, but there were fewer than 50 calls referred to compliance officers in most states and territories after its first month of operation.
Although 2447 Australians called the dob-in line in its first month, only 494 were referred to compliance officers. Most callers had in fact used the dob-in line to contact the department with general inquiries, as it was staffed by "a real person", not answered by an electronic system.
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs was unaware yesterday of any arrests or prosecutions as a result of information received from callers.
In its first month, immigration compliance officers dealt with no calls to the dob-in line from the Northern Territory and just one call from Tasmania.
Opposition immigration spokesman Stephen Smith yesterday dismissed the freecall line as a failure.
He said Labor proposed a foreign workers ID card and would punish employers who knowingly and repeatedly hired illegal workers.
But Senator Vanstone said it was too early to judge the dob-in line.
"You have to give it a go," she said.
The dob-in line is modelled on Centrelink's Reportafraud freecall number, which saves the Government $3 million a fortnight in payments.
Apr 10th 2004, 6:09 pm
#2
Tyke and now an Aussie
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Bondi, Sydney
Posts: 62
Re: Immigration Dob in Line
Give it time... some bitter and twisted ex. or unscrupulous employer is bound to get wind of this as a blackmail tool...!
