Former federal politician Craig Thomson has been arrested by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for his alleged role in a multimillion-dollar migration fraud.

A whole-of-government investigation – led by the AFP and comprising the Australian Border Force (ABF), AUSTRAC, the Australian Taxation Office and Department of Home Affairs – found evidence of an alleged scheme intended to defraud legitimate visa programs.

According to the AFP Mr Thomspon allegedly facilitated more than 130 fraudulent visa applications – focusing on the food service and regional farm worker industries – over four years, raising more than $2 million.

Mr Thomson was suspended from the Labor Party while in office over allegations that he used his Health Services Union credit card for improper purposes during his time with the union.

The AFP charged him with:

• One count of providing false documents and false or misleading information etc. relating to non-citizens, contrary to Section 234(1)(a) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). Maximum penalty 10 years' imprisonment;
• 19 counts of providing false documents and false or misleading information etc. relating to non-citizens, contrary to Section 234(1)(c) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). Maximum penalty 10 years' imprisonment;
• One count of referring a lawful non-citizen for work in breach of a work-related condition, contrary to Section 245 AEA of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). Maximum penalty two years' imprisonment;
• Five counts of prohibition on asking for or receiving a benefit in return for the occurrence of a sponsorship-related event, contrary to Section 245AR of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). Maximum penalty two years' imprisonment;
• Two counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception, contrary to Section 134.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). Maximum penalty 10 years' imprisonment;
• One count of dealing with proceeds of crime, contrary to Section 400.5(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). Maximum penalty 15 years' imprisonment; and
• One count of dealing with proceeds of crime, contrary to Section 400.4(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). Maximum penalty 20 years' imprisonment. 

The AFP’s commander of investigations for Eastern Command, Craig Bellis, said the charges laid in the immigration matter involved allegations of a serious breach of public trust.

“The alleged offences in this matter involved the exploitation of Federal Government programs designed to assist Australian businesses, and it is incumbent on the AFP to investigate and prosecute instances of large-scale fraud against Australian taxpayers,” he said.