Illegal immigrants in Australia. Big problem?

[Guest Rachel&Stu]

Hi guys,

 

A quick question if you don't mind, for those of you living in Australia.

 

I was reading the Melbourne Herald Sun on-line, and headline news was the discovery of a woman's body in Springvale.

 

Turns out the poor lady was on an expired tourist visa.

 

Call me naive, but I always got the impression that Australia was really hot on 'overstayers' and I imagined them being hunted down ruthlessly (over-active imagination I know).

 

So, my question is: is there a huge problem of overstayers, illegal immigrants, or whatever you want to call them.

 

I should add, that I'm not thinking of being one:no: should our visa application be refused!!

 

Thanks guys.

 

Rache:wubclub:

[Guest fatpom]

Many Aussies think that every other "foreign looking person" is an illegal immigrant taking our jobs or bludging off the economy.

 

A paranoia particularly fostered by the last lib gov "the politics of fear" and it was very very effective for a while.

 

However, the facts are (or at least were?) that the largest group of illegal immigrants (overstayers) are poms.

 

Aussies also believe they live in one of the most multicultural countries in the world which I think is something of an exaggeration or misconception? Its clear that 'white aussies' want aussies living next door to them... if that can't be the case then a pom is second best, if that's not possible then some other european.

 

We're surrounded by arabs "towel heads" and many of my friends are are horrified by this, particularly when they see the tradtional arab dress. They don't realise or care that they're among the best neighbours I've ever lived next to. :biglaugh:

[Life on easy street]

Well compared to the U.K they are

 

Once they have found an illegal immigrant they are very quickly shipped back to their country of Origin.

 

Australia is a big country so I am sure there a few thousand scattered all over Australia that have not been located yet.

[Guest fatpom]

Once they have found an illegal immigrant they are very quickly shipped back to their country of Origin.

 

 

Many would argue this is not the case stating that they use "every legal avenue possible" to remain, and probably many do?

 

The immigration camp in Nauru is designed to prevent "boat people" from access to australian legal representation. Ironically "boat people" make up a very small proportion of the illegal immigrants as most arrive by air but at the time there was a perception that 'thousands' were arriving by boat from Indonesia.

[Guest Gollywobbler]

Hi All

 

I found an obscure report on the DIAC website last year, fretting that they have an estimated 17,000 'illegals' in Oz. I imagine most would be visa over-stayers.

 

But it is a tiny problem compared to the UK where we seem to have around 17,000 per month (if not more) turning up!

 

Cheers

 

Gill

[Guest fatpom]

But it is a tiny problem compared to the UK where we seem to have around 17,000 per month (if not more) turning up!

Cheers

Gill

 

Hmmm? It seems that the UK is going through a transition phase at the moment with the european borders opening up???

 

I'm aware that the french are equally frustrated at the moment with all these "brits (and others) arriving and bludging off the health system". My mother lives in france now. :smile:

It almost seems like a continent sized version of "western germany" after the reunification days... something of a double edged sword?

 

So how do you think it will pan out???

[Guest Aldo]

But you must not forget the financial benefits Immigration brings the UK

 

or not as it now seems

[Guest John Sydney]

Generally Australia doesn't have a major problem with Illegals Their was a problem with boat arrivals about 20,000 a year but this was stopped 4 -5 years ago by refusing to allow them to land. then by removing out laying islands from the immigration act - which meant illegals could not appeal all the way to the high court of Australia paid for the Australian tax payer it was costing $1million per illegal to get them out of the country. 95% of Australians accept this and surprisingly so do legal immigrants, having family members waiting to come to Australia delayed due to que jumping

 

As for over stayers of visa's most are Pom's and Europeans generally they go home 3-12 months after the visa has expired if leave by themselves nothing is done about it If they are arrested and its found that they are illegal generally they are given 4-10 days to leave the country

[Guest Edinburger]

But you must not forget the financial benefits Immigration brings the UK

 

or not as it now seems

 

 

Well that’s me convinced. The point about how immigrants are not benefiting the economy in any way but will cause house prices to rise by 10% is especially brilliant.

[Guest Jamie Smith]

Well that’s me convinced. The point about how immigrants are not benefiting the economy in any way but will cause house prices to rise by 10% is especially brilliant.

 

And from another source:

 

"It is no secret that skills shortages influence the cost of building and in turn the cost of housing. DIAC should speed up the application process, without a doubt. If a potential migrant with no formal trade training needs to go through vetassess and then DIAC, the process will take at least 18 months.

 

Perhaps that's what should have been included in the article, that current DIAC processing timeframes and recently introduced lengthy skill assessment processes are causing upward presure on inflation, driving up the cost of residential properties and interest rates."

[Guest Edinburger]

Good point, but the original article was all about the UK and it's thinly veiled xenophobia makes me sad and mad. Still, it's the Evening Standard and not exactly known for reporting news.

 

I was just having trouble understanding how immigrants can contribute in no way to the economy and yet also drive up house prices by 10%. Are they stealing bricks and smashing them or something?