Australian Immigration Daily News

Migration Alliance's Vice-Convenor, Christopher Levingston is in a matter today at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) in relation to an RMA.  The Office of the MARA (OMARA) is represented by commercial solicitors, Spark Helmore and barrister, Ms Graycar.

There are 17 complaints against the RMA about 'immigration legal assistance'.  The agent is implicated because the applicants in the proceedings identify her as the lawyer / solicitor but upon closer examination those claims are not made out.   The complaints relate to providing 'immigration legal assistance' and multiple alleged breaches of the Code. 

The OMARA has submitted evidence spread over seven folders, consisting of about 4000 documents.  The issues are contentious and hard-fought and relate primarily to alleged misconduct in providing 'immigration legal assistance'.  The OMARA is spending a fortune on a case which has been under investigation since November 2008.

Following findings and referrals from the Federal Magistrates Court, the applicant RMA in the AAT is facing down a huge case, where the OMARA's legal representatives have come with mountains of paper.  The OMARA's case has been decribed by Christopher Levingston as 'very weak'.

The tribunal member is Senior Member Bell.

I will keep you posted of developments.