RMA representation 'needed on advisory council'

Details

Created on Monday, 11 March 2013 18:18

Written by Editorial staff

Registered migration agent (RMA) representation should be mandatory on the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration.

This is according to Migration Alliance (MA), which called for RMA input after immigration minister Brendan O'Connor said the council had called for changes to the temporary 457 visa scheme last year.

Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Mr O'Connor defended proposed reforms put forward by the Gillard government after being pressed by presenter Barrie Cassidy for evidence of why they are necessary.

"All of the reforms I announced were reforms provided to my predecessor by the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration," he explained.

"And what we've identified here are some very serious and very significant serious problems."

ABC's Mr Cassidy also questioned the immigration minister on his relationship with unions, suggesting Mr O'Connor had "clearly" accepted their argument that employers were using the 457 scheme to exploit cheap labour.

The politician denied it was "just" the stance of unions, instead claiming that the council had been calling for the changes for some time.

Four union leaders are currently members of the council, including Dave Noonan of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, and Paul Bastian of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.

On Saturday (March 9), Mr O'Connor cited a 9.5 per cent rise in 457 applications and 6.6 per cent increase in approvals, despite unemployment levels remaining flat, as a reason for reform.

Liana Allan of Migration Alliance says the council lacks the experience and knowledge to adequately inform Mr O'Connor of Australia's immigration law and policies.

She also urged for RMAs to be a central part of decision-making at this level.

"MA is of the view that the use of 'general' expertise as a platform for considered advice is inferior to expert advice by practitioners who daily have to negotiate the byzantine complexity of Australia's migration programme," she argued.

"The 457 visa program is effective and highly selective too. It is calculated to deliver skilled persons into the Australian workforce with a very high degree of oversight and control. It is a myth that the 457 visa is out of control."

MA stated that through its membership base of 3,700 RMAs, who themselves represent thousands of employers and candidates, it has accrued the specific industry expertise that is "invaluable" to the immigration minister.