Yahoo Finance ATO warning: ‘You will be brought to justice’
The ATO says Aussie taxpayers are also the victims when companies don’t do the right thing.
Businesses who exploit foreign workers have been put on notice by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) after it uncovered documents from a home in the ACT allegedly showing illegal debt evasion in the construction industry.
Officers located identity and financial documents allegedly showing the employment of unlawful non-citizens and exploitation of foreign workers, as well as $82,000 in cash.
Australian Border Force (ABF) commander special investigations Penny Spies said the raid sent a strong message to criminals that the ABF would continue to work side by side with law-enforcement partners to stamp out these practices.
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“Dishonest employers in the construction industry often pay workers in cash, meaning employees miss out on entitlements including superannuation. All workers deserve fair pay and fair treatment,” Spies said.
“We will continue to disrupt those who seek to exploit foreign workers here in Australia, and they will be brought to justice.
“We will continue to target criminals who want to profit by engaging in visa and migration fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and foreign-worker exploitation.”
ATO cracking down on financial crime
ATO deputy commissioner John Ford said individuals who took part in financial crime activities were often complicit in larger criminal activities.
“These criminals are motivated by financial gain, and their activities rob the Australian public of revenue to support essential services such as health and education,” Ford said.
ACT policing criminal investigations detective acting inspector Matt Innes said this type of joint operation proved highly effective.
“The information sharing and joint response activity seen in this operation has once again disrupted those who seek to profit from illegal activities that they consider victimless,” Innes said.
“The reality is that the workers and the Australian people - through unpaid taxation - are the victims when this type of illegal activity occurs.”
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