Tourism Australia spends millions promoting regional Australia each year. Ironically, regional Australia does not have enough workers to support tourism. According to The Australian, Austrade has told the Productivity Commission that the unwillingness of locals to relocate to regional areas is creating a shortage of workers for regional tourism and it says that there is an urgent need to let foreign workers fill the gap.

The federal government department responsible for tourism, Austrade, says that regional tourism is suffering and urgently requires workers in hotels, pubs and restaurants. It says that as early as next year, there will be a shortage of some 56,000 workers in the hospitality industry.  It has thus backed industry calls for increased flexibility of the 457 work visas and working holiday visas.

Austrade is seeking a lower English language competency threshold as well as a lower salary threshold for the foreign workers in the hospitality and tourism industry.

The Productivity Commission is currently looking at labour force mobility. Austrade believes that any changes to wage floors for 457 visa workers could have sweeping effects on Australia’s hotels, restaurants and cafes by making it easier for owners to hire staff from overseas and attract workers to regional tourist hubs.

In Austrade’s report to the Productivity Commission, it stated, “Providing more flexible arrangements to access overseas labour to address shortages will help to provide a stronger tourism workforce that will help the Australian tourism industry become more competitive, encourage greater investment, and support regional development.”

We are pleased to advise that the Office of the MARA have approved Migration Alliance as an Authorised Voluntary Organisation for the purpose of migration CPD as of yesterday 20 March 2014. 

Any Registered Migration Agents who are interested in earning 1 migration CPD point for 3 hours of Pro Bono /Volunteer work please contact Migration Alliance on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

In the next few weeks Migration Alliance will be launching it's first Immigration Clinic in Auburn, NSW.  Auburn is an immigrant hotspot in Sydney's west, made up of 'mosques, kebabs and multicultural gatherings' says CNN Travel, who have put together a news item on Auburn.

The following information has come in to Migration Alliance from a RMA who is happy for us to share the news:

Dear Richard,

The matter was considered and the policy has been amended. IELTS tests will be valid for up to 3 years.

Warm regards,
Michael Thomson
Administration
Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS)
PO Box 1911
Milton QLD 4064
Australia
Phone: 61 7 3876 2988
Fascimile: 61 7 3876 2999


From: Richard Coates [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. '; document.write(''); document.write(addy_text55308); document.write('<\/a>'); //-->\n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ]
Sent: Wednesday, 12 March 2014 3:15 PM
To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Subject: IELTS Policy

Dear Sir Or Madam,
Have noticed in your Guidelines your policy on IELTS test is as Follows,

1. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
A valid IELTS report form showing an overall band score of 7.0 or better (Academic or General). AIMS
considers an IELTS report to be current for two years from the date of issue.

Are you aware that DIBP have changed their Legislation to acceptance of IELTS results and that under Migration legislation since July 2012 all IELTS test are valid up to 3 years could you put this to your board member to consider a change of policy in view of fairness to potential applicants who have IELTS test results and believing they are accepted throughout Australia for up to two years., the benefits to you organisation should you come in line with the department of immigration policy change can only be an wider scope and increase in applicants for professional assessment. The only people who benefit from not changing your policy is the IELTS test body financially. As agents we feel it is an un dues expense on your potential clients. Its common sense that a person ability to speak and function at the required level once met wont decrease once they are utilising it in Australia in their profession I would like to know if there is any lodgeicsal reason your body cannot make this change as DIBP has done. DIBP recognise this and it would bring your organisation in line with government latest legislative change.
Look forward to hearing from you .

Regards

Richard E Coates
Migration Agent
Marn #0746134
Celtic Migration Services pty ltd
Ph.: 08 83966814 Mob: 0417839502 Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Minister Scott Morrison has announced the removal of the English language proficiency requirement for re-registering migration agents.

This is the full joint media statement from the ofices of Scott Morrison – Minister for Immigration and Border Protection and Michaelia Cash – Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.

The Immigration and Border Protection portfolio is contributing to efforts to cut red tape, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection the Hon. Scott Morrison and Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash said today.

The government is committed to easing the regulatory burden on the business and not-for-profit sectors. The Immigration and Border Protection portfolio is making around 1000 regulatory changes.

The AAT finds that DIBP had wrongly focussed on events of a single day in DIBP's decision to refuse an application for citizenship. The AAT held that DIBP must properly take into account the general conduct of the applicant over a period of time in order to properly determine whether the events were ‘out of character’, the chances of such repeat behaviour, and prospects of reform.

DIBP’s refusals to grant a Chinese national and Australian permanent resident, citizenship on character grounds has been overturned by the AAT in a recent decision: Zhang and Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2014] AATA 136 (13 March 2014).

DIBP had decided that the Applicant was not of good character by reason of his conduct on a single day. The applicant had been convicted in November 2009 of two counts of common assault and one of breaching an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO). The charges arose out of an argument between the Applicants and his then wife on 22 October 2009.

It is a requirement for eligibility for Australian citizenship by conferral that a person be of good character: Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (the Citizenship Act) s 21(2)(h). However, the Citizenship Act does not define “good character”. Guidance is found in Chapter 10 of the Australian Citizenship Instructions (ACIs) which offers guidance on policy in relation to the interpretation of, and exercise of powers under, the Citizenship Act and Regulations.

The ACIs refer to the phrase “enduring moral qualities” in assessing character. The AAT held that the phrase “encompasses concepts of characteristics which have been demonstrated over a very long period of time; distinguishing right from wrong; and behaving in an ethical manner, conforming to the rules and values of Australian society. This broad definition means that “a decision maker can be satisfied that an applicant is of good character if the applicant has demonstrated good enduring/lasting moral qualities that are evident before their visa application and throughout their migration and citizenship processes”: cl 10.3.1.