The federal government will crack down on immigration agents following a review that found “unscrupulous” agents were violating the visa system and that Australia’s immigration system was being exploited by organized criminals for human trafficking.
The Nixon review examined the “Almost industrial scale” exploitation of vulnerable temporary migrants and international students amid a broader review of Australia’s immigration policy.
Former Victoria Police Commissioner Christine Nixon found “sexual exploitation abuses, human trafficking and other organized crime” due to loopholes in Australia’s immigration system.
Initial reform action announced
The federal government has committed $50 million to establish a new division and strike force within the Department of Internal Affairs to boost immigration enforcement, which will target organized abuse of immigration programs and resolve the status of people whose visa options have been exhausted, but who remain in the country.
Character testing for immigration agents will be strengthened, and Operation Inglenook, which has been identifying and supporting victims of trafficking in the sex industry, will be expanded to cover the entire immigration system and made permanent.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil blamed the previous government for a deterioration in immigration enforcement, which she said allowed the system to be used to “perpetrate some of the worst crimes known to humanity.” humanity”.
“One of the great frauds that has been perpetrated in Australian politics is Peter Dutton presenting himself as the tough guy who kept our border and our nations safe,” Ms O’Neil said.
“We will integrate all the different pieces of the puzzle that are involved in ensuring that criminals cannot exploit this system into a permanent strike force, which will move around the immigration system and address the big problems that we see and make sure that the responsible are expelled and held accountable.
“We are making a very significant transformation in the way we regulate and make sure that immigration agents in our country follow the rules.”
The resources of the Immigration Agents Registration Office will be doubled and penalties will be increased for agents involved in misconduct.
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said the authority would also be empowered to impose conditions on unscrupulous immigration agents.
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