Breaking Australian immigration news brought to you by Migration Alliance and associated bloggers.
Liana Allan is probably Australia's best known migration agent. Liana is the owner of Legal Training Australia Pty Ltd which is a professional development firm training Australian migration agents and owner of Visacorp Pty Ltd migration agency. Liana's main passion is serving the needs of the migration agent community and providing migrants with information that can truly assist them as they seek to create a new life in Australia. Liana plays netball twice a week and enjoys great food and the occasional glass of Shiraz. Liana lives in Sydney, Australia and has two children. Liana is married.
The following email has been received from NSW Treasury this afternoon:
Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
NSW Treasury is extending applications to all eligible candidates who are currently residing in a designated regional area in NSW. Please see detailed information below.
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Migration Alliance has received the following email from the Director of Office of the MARA this afternoon:
Further to my note on Monday 15 June 2020 on ‘Bill Package – passing through the Senate’.
The Bill package comprises several different parts across the two pieces of legislation – the Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2019 and Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Bill 2019.
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The following email was received by the ACS today:
We are aware that applicants may be adversely impacted by the current pandemic and again want to assure applicants and agents that our customer service channels through phone and email are operating as normal. Please reach out to us through these channels should you have any queries or are facing challenges in relation to your migration skills assessment applications.
Notification of changes in ACS Migration Skills Assessment:
Migration Alliance has received the following email from the Department of Home Affairs today:
I am writing to inform you that the Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2019 and Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Bill 2019 (the Bill Package) have passed the Senate today. The media release announcing the passage of the Bill Package can be accessed on the Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs’ website at: https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/jasonwood/Pages/government-removes-unnecessary-dual-regulation-for-lawyers.aspx
In summary, the Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2019 contains measures to partially implement recommendations of the 2014 Independent Review of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority, including to remove legal practitioners from the regulatory scheme governing migration agents, and other measures. The Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Bill 2019 ensures that an agent who originally applied for and had their registration as a non-commercial agent approved, but who at any point through that registration period gives immigration assistance otherwise than on a non-commercial basis, becomes liable to pay a pro-rata adjusted charge.
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The Office of the MARA have written to Migration Alliance today as a key and valued stakeholder in the Australian Migration Advice Industry. The following information was provided in the email:
The function of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) has transferred to the Immigration Integrity and Community Protection Division in the Department of Home Affairs.
This transfer aligns closely with the aims of the Division to protect the Australian community and help maintain the integrity of, and public confidence in, the broader migration program. The direction and focus of the OMARA in protecting consumers and addressing emerging risks associated with the migration advice profession has a direct impact on the integrity of visa program caseloads.
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