Do they really?

Are you sure about that?

579,
I do not think that those that over stay their visa by a short time would have to pay a penalty or if so only a token amount because they have already paid for their visa. It is in our interests to encourage them to return again and to tell others of their good time here.

This would account for the vast majority of over stayers.

One needs ID for most every thing these days, you can't even open a bank account without a tax file number and cards are used every where so how do you get one. Any longer term illegal resident would need fake docs and then how long before immigration comes knocking on your door or you are ripped off by other criminals. Not as easy as you make out. You have to contact seedy characters just to find out where to get fake docs and they will sell you out if to their advantage.

They have to have paid for a return ticket before coming here on most visas so that is not a problem.

So I ask again, where is the problem with over stayers, most only over stay a short while and continue to spend their own money on whatever tourists do.

Foxy,
You continue to pretend that over staying visitors are migrants, they are mostly just tourists. Do you regard yourself as a criminal if you are late in paying your council rates. Dutton may crack down on longer term over stayers and I hope he does.

Hi Foxy and Banjo,

Overstayers tend to be tourists and/or backpackers. Short-termers. [Does anyone else have enormous trouble with fat fingers ?!] Kids in school are a longer-term proposition.

Backpackers with children should be allowed to enrol their kids for the duration of their stay. How hard would that be ?

Joe

No its not the children's fault, but it's not the taxpayers fault either. So I say no...

Or alternatively I say yes, then hold the kids until the parents arrive to pick them up then put them all in detention for being here illegally.

In detention, I'd agree they should have a schoolteacher of sorts for kids.

We're told by the Immigration Department and other
sources that 1 in 10 illegals are from China.
The US, Malaysia and Britain are also big over-stayers.
Of course there are many on tourist visas but there
are also many foreign students who stay on after their
studies are finished and move out into the Community.

What new policies the government will come up with to
deal with this problem we shall have to wait and see.

NGOs, lawyers and other bottom feeders make zilch out of young backpackers and students who arrive by plane with their legitimate passports and papers.

However NGOs, lawyers and other bottom feeders used to make squillions out of the tax payer to represent, advocate and stir the proverbial with economic migrants who arrived courtesy of the large sums they paid to people smugglers in lieu of a first class airfare which would have been cheaper. But hey, a life on Centrelink is a very big prize indeed.

Then you have Labor and Greens who have no policies at all and need some emotive issues to talk up for headlines.

So much astroturfing and so few places to do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bYAQ-ZZtEU
"Astroturf and manipulation of media messages"