Australian Immigration Daily News

Migration Alliance members, DIBP and I am sure the Office of the MARA might not be surprised to learn that RMAs have had just about enough of the Office of the MARA.  

The red tape that they have wrapped us all up in over the last couple of years has become oppressive to say the least.  The Office of the MARA have, to all intents and purposes, stifled the profession just like the unions sought to stifle the 457 visa programme with their red tape.

What has become obvious to RMAs is that the Office of the MARA have become a law unto themselves.

Richard Marles is the new Immigration Minister and Matt Thistlewaite is the new parliamentary Secretary for Immigration.  Interesting times.  I have been informed that Richard will be very interesting.  A man of pedigree and someone who might be a future leader of the Labor party.

Here is a better image of the Labor Ministry. 

Migration Alliance members will be extremley pleased with the following news in The Australian today:

The Coalition has vowed to remove "union red tape" on 457 visas as business steps up its demands for the turn-around of Labor's  baseless stomping on the scheme designed to bring overseas skilled workers to Australia.  Annabel Hepworth writes:

In a closed-door speech yesterday, Australian Mines and Metals Association chief executive Steve Knott advocated the dumping of Labor's "pre-election, last-minute, politically driven, ill-considered, unnecessary and cumbersome" labour market testing requirements for 457 visas.

The testing requirements were introduced by the Rudd government amid claims of "widespread employer rorting" and require companies to demonstrate that they have tried for four months to recruit Australians before nominating a foreign worker for a 457 visa.

The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison, said last night: "We strongly opposed these measures in opposition and will be consulting on how best to cut union red tape on 457s, while maintaining legitimate protections that support the integrity of the scheme.

Read more here

Following the publication of the Singapore Oil / Mr Kang article I have been inundated with telephone calls from concerned people who tell me that the issues surrounding Singpore Oil and Mr Kang have been canvassed at the Office of the MARA by a variety of complainants both consumers and practitioners over at least the last 12 months.

If that is correct and the Office of the MARA has been in the know concerning these allegations then the question needs to be asked what steps have the OMARA taken to protect the consumer?

The Office of the MARA's job is simple.  They only have two jobs.  One is to regulate RMAs.  The other is to protect consumers.  What is the problem?

Migration Alliance members will be interested to learn about the following ACS updates which were received today:

Dear ,

This email is a notification of up coming changes to ACS skill sassessments.


Temporary Graduate - 485
As of Oct 28, 2013, the Recent Graduate application type will change name to Temporary Graduate - 485.
 
The assessment criteria will remain the same –
•    Bachelor degree or higher with a major in computing that is closely related to the nominated occupation.
 
All applications lodged on or after Oct 28, 2013, will receive a result letter stating that the result has been issued for the purpose of lodging a visa subclass 485.

Graduate Skills Assessment
As of Oct 28, 2013, the Recent Graduate wanting experience considered application type will change name to Graduate Skills Assessment.
 
Only applicants that hold a valid Recent Graduate or Temporary Graduate - 485 skills assessment will be eligible to apply for a Graduate Skills Assessment.
 
The Graduate Skills Assessment is to allow applicants that have previously applied for a Temporary Graduate - 485 to have their work experience assessed for a permanent skills assessment.
 
The assessment criteria will remain the same and the Skill Level Requirement Met Date will be noted as the completion date of the relevant Bachelor degree or higher on the ACS result letter.
 
This change will affect all applications lodged on or after Oct 28, 2013.
 
End of Year Closure 2013
The ACS office will close from Dec 23, 2013 and re-open on Jan 13, 2014. 
 
Phone and email enquiries will be not be available during this time.  Please refer to the skills assessment website for information.
 
All skills assessments not completed before Dec 20, 2013 will be finalized after Jan 13, 2013.
 
Due to a high number of applications at this time, we cannot guarantee any application time frames.
 
Kind Regards,

The Skills Assessment Team
Australian Computer Society

Web: www.acs.org.au  E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.