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Migration Agents let rip at the OMARA
For the views of other agents please read the comments on this blog article.
Migration Alliance member RMAs might be interested in this email I just received from a fellow agent:
Hi Liana,
I thought you may want to make members aware of an issue we have noticed on the OMARA website, when logging on as an Agent.
If one clicks on the link “CPD Activities “and then clicks on “completed CPD activities” they will be taken to a summary of all of their completed CPDs.
The problem however is that at the top of this page the information given about completed CPDs is incorrect.
As an example on my details it states:
“For this registration year, you need to complete a minimum of 10 CPD points including 1 mandatory CPD points(s).
You currently have a total of 7 CPD points; including 0 mandatory CPD points.”
This information is incorrect as I currently have only 4 CPD points for this registration period.
The problem is due to the fact that on this page the system counts all CPD points for the last 12 months rather than for the Registration period.
I have advised MARA of this issue.
END OF AGENT'S EMAIL TO ME
As an aside I thought I would let you know I have had just about enough of the OMARA CPD Division sending me auto-emails which state that a document is attached but is not actually attached. Some officers in the 'Authority' send me emails which they write themselves and have the documents attached. Hooray. Normality.
Unfortunately other officers spit out their communications via a broken communication system (new website) and provide no name and no position number. Just a poorly titled footer as follows:
Professional development team (last two words are lower case)
OMARA have known about the issue for weeks and weeks.
Isn't this the new website that they just had built which cost them (us) a billion million trillion dollars?
If this was an agent, the OMARA would be launching a full investigation pointing out all the areas of the code of conduct which have been breached, listing the professional service standards which are not being adhered to and finding ways to haul the agent in for a S308 interview and give some kind of a sanction.
Questions for my colleagues out there:
Which service does the Office of the MARA provide to each of us every year for the huge fee we pay them (please don't confuse this with services the OMARA provide to themselves each year with our fee)?
Does anyone at the OMARA have proven sound knowledge in our professional occupation?
Does anyone know what the OMARA spent on advertising last financial year?
(Tip the answer starts with a capital z).
Comments
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Wednesday, 19 February 2014Don't forget the design brief was built by professional beurocrats from DIBP's pasture for the unwanted ie retiring or hopeless DIBP staff. Nothing of any real value has ever been produced by MARA.
Want something done properly then ask a busy professional. MARA are neither. Liana you are asking too much if you would like them to do anything that makes sense. These people are idiots. -
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
If only I knew this government entity existed. I just migrated and paid a unregistered agent in the UK to do my visa processing. Why don't they advertise on the web about migration agents so people like me don't get conned .
I lost £15,000 to a unregistered one. I searched and never knew about you people until I got to this website. It seems your government doesn't want the public to know about using a migration agent. I guess I'm feeling ripped off. -
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Mara is a toothless tiger with no real authority. The people making decisions in there are second rate public servants.
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Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Honestly, are we surprised. Look at the DIBP website, it's online system, IMMI Account; not to mention information provided by the 13 18 81 unregistered staff! Don't get me started : )
· Liana - Allan likes this comment. -
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
And they're spending our money. Is this how they justify to charge us high registration fee?
· Liana - Allan likes this comment. -
Thursday, 20 February 2014
OMARA is not independent of DIBP. That means they have no power. The agents who get dregistered just didn't fight them. If you want to combat them, it's easy. Ring Christopher Levingstone or Adrian Joel for example. Appeal any decision they make and there you go. The OMARA loses control. Most of the time thei decisions are flawed so you will win..
Can we hope for the new Chief to sweep a broom in there? I know many agents who think this way but no place to say it. Dodgy website made by dodgy people calling themselves an industry regulator. Thank you Alliance for exposing truth. I just checked myself on the website and according to government I also don't exist. -
Thursday, 20 February 2014
Office of MARA staff are beaurocratic drones who create new policies to give themselves cushy jobs. I am an agent and I have no respect for any of them. As a lawyer I am aware that if tested their policies won't stand up.
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Thursday, 20 February 2014
Has anyone seen their office in Sydney? They should be ashamed of themselves giving themselves the luxury that the State Director of DIBP doesn't even have. Views over Hyde Park. What was wrong with their old office? Could they not have found something a little less prestigious? Government serving government. No money left to promote what they do.
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Thursday, 20 February 2014
MARA are a bunch of smiling assassins. Anyone who falls for their smiling faces when attending a meeting is walking into a trap. They are the enemy and they do nothing for us. Avoid them like the plague. They are in bed with DIBP. They are DIBP. Conflict. Ignore them and they might go away.
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Thursday, 20 February 2014
They are DIBP zombies.
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Thursday, 20 February 2014
I am meeting with the CEO of the Office of the MARA at 12:00 midday today and will discuss the state of affairs with him. If anyone has anything that they would like raised at the meeting today please post it in here.
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Thursday, 20 February 2014
Ask MARA:
1. The yearly breakdown since MARA started, how many complaints they received against unregistered practices.
2. What are those outcome:
a. dismissed without investigation
b. dismissed after investigation
c. report to police
d. Court case
e. Success in court. -
Thursday, 20 February 2014
Since the original introduction of Dora Chin Tan to the MARA, their CPD section has become a 'nanny the agents' division. We are a CPD provider but not LTA. We have decided to cut down on the number of courses we offer because the application process at MARA is too onerus and we cannot justify the time. We also find the division assessment process insulting and overly restrictive. MARA CPD is more onerus than lawyer CPD. This picture for the blog is very accurate.
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Thursday, 20 February 2014
now you people don't be shy or scared to voice my comment
without prejudice
never in my life have i encountered such a bunch of no hope - loser- school- drop- outs right down flatfooted bare- ass -cave- dwelling- hillbillies calling them self professionals, professionals yeah wasting agents registration fees bot they not alone the department of migration has their of-springs working in their rank so what to do ?????? well lets call the exterminator in oz its call pest control because that's exactly what they are a PEST that needs eradication
og yeah i had my fair slice of shite with both of them so dont get me wrong thats why i am p ...d of -
Thursday, 20 February 2014
Martin I also left the industry but I follow this blog because it tells the truth.
I used to be a member of the MIA (I have heard it referred to as missing in action). They are an off-shoot of the MARA or at least act like they are. Christopher Levingston used to say that the MIA gave blow jobs to the Labor minister. I think he was probably right. MARA means Mentally And Retarded Arseholes. Let's hope for all your sakes that their new leader can undo the mess Wood created. -
Thursday, 20 February 2014
I came across another RMA who had non registered staff providing immigration advice. I had photos supplied to me showing the staff holding consulting sessions with clients. I sent to OMARA, they claimed to investigate and said nothing wrong. Another case I showed OMARA several contracts by a RMA where there were many breaches of the code such as taking money in advance and stating that there would not be any refund for any reason (so work not done, still no refund of what you've paid in advance) and this was occurring over many years. Still OMARA said nothing was done wrong!
I've lost faith in OMARA. When there are real concerns with RMAs they don't do anything!· Liana - Allan likes this comment. -
Friday, 21 February 2014
The Office of MARA are pathetic. I have no idea why they think they have any real power at all. If anyone has any sense at all they would realise that every decision this government authority makes has little or no basis in law and can be appealed and won. Office of MARA don't realise it yet but a revolt is coming. This is first warning shot to them. Get real or we agents will get even.
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Friday, 21 February 2014
If we all members of Migration Alliance stand united, strong and with united voice, I think we can repulse any form of intimidation coming from MARA. MARA sees agent as a batch of crooks who are out there to exploit clients, completely disregarding all the assistance they offer to their clients in navigating convoluted migration act and regulations. The legal profession has the law society who has a working relationship with lawyers and sees them as its members , fight for their interest. Agents need Migration Alliance to fight but with one voice and give it all the backing it needs. Long live MA
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Friday, 21 February 2014
Notice how agents come out in defence of the Minister, Scott Morrison MP and not in defence of the Office of the MARA? This disconnect has something to do with a seriously problematic relationship between agents and that particular division.
Immigration blog
I decided to check and, because I did not remember my password, entered my MARA number into the 'forget your details' section.
I was then informed that i did not exist. Checked with 'find an agent' and I do exist. How much did the new computer system cost?