Tough talk after 250 overstay Commonwealth Games visas

Fireworks are set off as the final performance takes place during the Closing Ceremony for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia. Source: Press Association

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has warned nobody will take advantage of Australia after it emerged more than 250 foreign athletes and officials have stayed in the country following the Commonwealth Games.

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Published 28 May 2018 11:46am

Updated 16 August 2022 9:45am

By Abdullah Alikhil, Stefan Armbruster

Source: SBS

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Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has warned nobody will take advantage of Australia after it emerged more than 250 foreign athletes and officials have stayed in the country following the Commonwealth Games.

Most are seeking asylum and have been granted temporary bridging visas while their cases are processed.

But 50 have made no formal application for permission to stay.

Mr Dutton has warned they will be found and deported.

A week-long guessing game over the number of Commonwealth Games athletes and officials still in Australia after their visas expired a week ago has finally ended.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton previously refused to say, but the deputy secretary of his department, Malisa Golightly, has revealed the figures in a Senate Estimates hearing.