The Migration Alliance is wondering whether OMARA is carrying out it's decisions in light of the decision of the AAT in the case of Asif Syed. The AAT found that an applicant for registration as a migration agent requires an IELTS test band score of 7 in each band but this can be just one of the factors which MARA must consider.

The Migration Alliance wants to know whether MARA is ignoring this instruction by still insisting that an English language proficiency test such as IELTS can only be considered as proof of an applicant’s English language proficiency.

If new applicants would like to create a letter to the Office of the MARA the following paragraph might be added (the paragraph is a creation of Michael Suss RMA):

It's been a while now and I am wondering what agents think about the LegendCOM and the LexisNexis Professional Library subscription products. 

I note that the LexisNexis professional library is being plugged heavily across the profession at the moment.

In my professional opinion, and in the opinion of the agents that work directly with me, we believe that the LegendCOM product is far superior to the LexisNexis product.

Australia’s current visa regime is starving the design and construction industries of engineering talent, severely impeding future infrastructure development and adding to the high costs of business in Australia, reports the engineering journal Sourceable.

A leading industry body, Consult Australia, has warned that the country’s current visa regime could hamper infrastructure development by depriving employers of much needed engineering talent.

Consult Australia says changes to outdated visa regulations are urgently needed given the critical role that skilled migration plays in supplying the country with qualified engineers.

“Robust skilled migration programs are essential to the health of engineering-based companies and the Australian economy as a whole,” said Megan Motto, CEO Consult Australia.

Speaking to the industry journal, Sourceable, Ms Motto noted that in addition to “the high cost of doing business” in Australia, there is a “chronic workforce supply issues” arising from the cyclical nature of employment demand as one of the most besetting  problems affecting the country’s infrastructure design sector.

Recently there has been a lot of media hype around children and vaccination.   Do parents always have the final word on whether or not to vaccinate their children?  On Tuesday 29 April 2014 at 5:30PM the ABC Radio Law Report hosted a programme on 'Vaccination and the Law'. 

Essentially the programme covered what happens if parents disagree on whether to vaccinate their children and at what point the court steps in when there are disputes on vaccination?  My question is this: 

Should unvaccinated people, including children who are moving to Australia given a right to 'choose' not to vaccinate their children and themselves from deadly illnesses before they enter the migration zone? 

Migration Alliance RMA members will be disappointed to learn about the AL2-4 Student Visa lodgements.  The following email was received by a MA member last week and sent into the DIBP:

I am sure you are familiar with the Level 2 -4 electronic lodgement of Student visa “trial”  for students from China, India, Thailand and Indonesia.  After more than 10 years(?), DIBP is still trialling?

My questions are: