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A French national has been deported for breaching COVID-19 restrictions by helping to organise an illegal New Year rave in Queensland.
The man, 29, had his working holiday visa cancelled following his involvement in the event, west of Gympie, and was removed from the country by Australian Border Force on Tuesday.
ABF enforcement acting commander Steven Darby said his removal showed the ABF was taking seriously the threats posed to the Australian community by people intentionally breaking coronavirus restrictions.
“The ABF will not tolerate non-citizens who choose to engage in criminal activity or behaviour of concern, particularly with respect to COVID-19 restrictions which can have a devastating flow on effect for our community,” he said.
“We hope this sends a strong message to others who think they can arrange or participate in reckless activities of this kind.”
Queensland’s New Year’s Eve restrictions capped gatherings at a home to 50 people and at 100 for public spaces.
If venues had a COVID Safe Event Checklist in place, up to 500 people were allowed at indoor events and up to 1500 people could gather at outdoor events.
Acting commander Darby said the ABF would continue working with state, territory and Commonwealth partner agencies to act decisively in protecting the community from the risk of harm posed by non-citizens breaching COVID-19 restrictions.
The ABF has powers under the Migration Act to cancel visas of non-citizens and remove them from the country if they are a risk to the health, safety or good order of the Australian community.
Eight visas have been cancelled since May as part of an ABF operation to help agencies ensure non-citizens are obeying government regulations to minimise the spread of the virus.
There have also been 24 field enforcement activities, 335 warnings issued and 15 notices of intention to consider visa cancellation given as a result of the operation.
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