Sunshine Coast Daily has reported that some so-called ‘ghost’ restaurants are under investigation. There are allegations that these restaurants are registered as businesses and have websites and Facebook pages but are not operational.
According to the report, the special investigation into these businesses has revealed that more than two Indian restaurants appear like any other restaurant, and they have a proper setup but they are never opened.
“A Sunshine Coast Council spokesman confirmed neither of those two businesses have ever held a food licence and the Sunshine Coast Daily can reveal the Department of Home Affairs is investigating their former parent company MJ Food Venture after allegations of visa fraud,” the report reads.
The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed the owners of these restaurants were under investigation. The department’s spokesperson said multiple agencies were working together on the case, according to the report.
"We work closely with partner agencies to investigate allegations of visa fraud in Australia, and routinely undertake investigations to identify potential breaches," the spokesperson was quoted by the Sunshine Coast Daily as saying.
