So Summa, do you think we will hear 'someone in management' got a fine and a kick up the b.m in due course, for approving it in the first place..?
Have worked in o'seas countries where the red tape paper pushers (who do little other useful work, and get in the way, mosttimes), ENSURE that foreign nationals have fee-paid-in-advance Work Permit and Residency Permit organised by the airline to comply with local laws. Or they are on a plane out. One favourite rule is that they can't even be approved/issued while the person is actually in the country at the time. Have had to send a new pilot out of the country on an afternoon flight, rush the papers to the Government office for stamping, and bring him back the next morning.
Can't see that happening in an 'enlightened' developed country like Australia. More likely someone in Government in Immigration will just say that they didn't know it was happening, hadn't been informed (what do the staff DO), bend the rules 'this once' (just like with the boat people who lob up on the coast and expect to be welcome, Australia is a big country- but they aren't aware most of it is desert and getting drier with water shortages, but then, of course, they don't plan to live in the centre bits), slap a wrist, -no fine or something that would be a proper PENALTY to not consider it again. Its the laid back Aussie way M-a-a-t-e, give people the benefit of the doubt, don't do it again, look after the rest of the World but tax the Australian employee (the ones left with a job) to pay for it all.
Slap an Executive or a Company with a BIG DISINCENTIVE,
-NO WAY.