The Office of the MARA spent $0.00 on advertising the services of Registered Migration Agents last financial year.

$0.00

https://www.mara.gov.au/ClientFiles/AnnualReports/2012-2013/appendices.htm#2

See the annual report link above where you will find the sentence:

Did you know that Sydney TAFE offers 24/7 online payment by credit card for 457 Visa Training Benchmark A?  Complete the details on the online form and you can instantly print your own receipt, at any time.  It’s so easy.
 
Sydney TAFE developed the online facility to assist RMAs in meeting urgent payment requests.  The month of June is usually hectic so take advantage of this easy option now.
 
Elizabeth Mitchell, Manager Visa Contributions for Sydney TAFE, has provided her delicious recipe for Rocky Road for those who indulge in chocolate to reduce EOFY stress.

Professionals Australia has made submissions to the 457 panel to take Engineers off the skills list. Its chief executive Chris Walton has told the ABC that too many locals are without jobs and the flow of migrant workers needs to stop.  Mr Walton did not address the problem employers are having in getting Australian specialists to relocate to regional areas to do the work employers need to get done.

The peak body representing engineers, scientists and managers is urging the Abbott government to tighten controls over skilled migration visas.

“In the last year there's about 7,000 job losses of engineers alone due to the hiatus in the resources sector and now we face hundreds more engineers being on the unemployment list as a result of the collapse of the vehicle industry. And there are many other professionals who are also facing a struggle to get a job,” Chris Walton told the ABC.

“During the boom period of the resource we did support the need for some migrant labour but the labour market has changed. Once the big mining companies put a halt to a range of projects and once the end of the stimulus package with the school hall program and that finished and now with the collapse in the manufacturing industry, you've had a perfect storm and the Government needs to adjust.

He says that temporary labour should be that and the labour market should be constantly tested and adjustments made: “The Federal Government needs to take, temporarily take engineers off the skilled occupation list until there is a change in the labour market,” said Mr Walton.

But the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it doesn't believe there are too many foreign workers. ACC’s CEO, Kate Carnell says that the problem is that employers still cannot get Australians with the right level of skill to relocate to areas where the work needs to be done.

Migration Alliance will have special guest, Mahboba Rawi attend our Sydney Migration 2014 conference on 17th and 18th October.  In celebration of her Australian Aid work in Afghanistan, Migration Alliance and Sydney TAFE will be hosting an Afghani BBQ lunch.

So who is Mahboba?

Mahboba Rawi came to Australia as a refugee from Afghanistan and is now an Australian citizen. After facing many hardships in her own life, she founded Mahboba's Promise in 1998 to raise funds and awareness among the Australian community as a way to create a sustainable, self-sufficient future for Afghani women and children.

It is important for the general public to understand the Australian Immigration System and how the decision making process works.  For those clients who have had their visa applications refused or cancelled at the DIBP level, don't despair.  The DIBP is only the first stage of the process.  The higher in the decision-making tree you go, the higher the skill level of the decision maker and the more likely you are to obtain a proper decision on your application.  Registered Migration Agents are present at all levels to assist visa applicants exercise their rights.  As can be seen, the DIBP are at the bottom of the skill and decision making tree.