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Immigration Daily News Migration Alliance Wins: Coalition repeals English Language testing for RMAs repeat registration.
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Migration Alliance Wins: Coalition repeals English Language testing for RMAs repeat registration.
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 red tape reductions in the Immigration and Border Protection portfolio include streamlining the process for businesses that use the APEC Business Travel Card by reducing costs and helping facilitate small businesses travelling to APEC economies.
In 2010 there were 25 000 Australian APEC Business Card holders. As of December last year this had plummeted to barely more than 18 000.
Minister Morrison said the changes will improve access to the APEC Business Travel Card by removing the requirement for certification through an approved body for Australian citizen applicants.
'This small but essential change will mean the $330 fee per business will be dropped. This will also lead to an estimated annual saving of $760 000 in compliance costs and charges,' Minister Morrison said.
'Further, migration agents will benefit from the government's red tape repeal measures with the removal of the English language proficiency requirement for re-registering migration agents, saving each agent more than four hours of their time in unnecessary testing and travel,' he said.
Minister Cash said student visa holders are also better off under this government thanks to the extension of streamlined student visa processing to more non-university providers.
'But there is more work to be done. The recently announced independent review of the 457 visa programme will provide recommendations on how to maintain the integrity of the programme, while not placing unnecessary administrative burden on business,' Minister Cash said.
Transition to the new arrangements for the APEC Business Travel Card will occur in the coming months with full implementation expected before the end of the financial year.
Comments
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Thursday, 20 March 2014Well done. It was both ironic and hypercritical that such a test should be imposed on those providing assistance but not on those making the decisions. Of the hundreds of migration agents I have had contact with, many who were born overseas, I have never met one who demonstrated as poor a level of English as many case officers I have encountered.
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Thursday, 20 March 2014
Well done Migration Alliance. We need to continue to fight in the best interest for the profession and RMAs which MA has been doing with perfection.
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Thursday, 20 March 2014
Very well done Migration Alliance. Together we can do more because still there's a lot to do.
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Thursday, 20 March 2014
Well done, this has been a war worth fighting. This test was imposed without justifiable reason other than lobbying coming from certain quarters, with MARA being their cohort and assistance coming from MIA. This disguised racist test was a brain-child of two or three rednecks who were at the time on the board of MIA who purportedly in the name of saving the industry from bad-nuts, were rather fashioned out their racists view and placating it on the their chest , albeit in a very subtle way.
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Thursday, 20 March 2014
Great staff Migration Alliance! Congratulations for winning this battle! We still have a war to win though
and we are ready to fight next to you!!! -
Friday, 21 March 2014
Well done migration Alliance. Special thanks to Chris and Liana.
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Friday, 27 June 2014
I found this term "Full Parents" in the new Form 47sp. I did a search on LEGENDcom but found nothing. I am scratching my head. Can any one help?
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Friday, 27 June 2014
*anyone
Immigration blog
Way to go Migration Alliance! Fight well fought. Thanks to Scott Morrison and Michaelia Cash.
All migration agents, please act now to have the Office of the MARA red-tape reduced. Make your submission here: http://www.cuttingredtape.gov.au/form/make-submission
One example of OMARA needless red tape which has been forced upon agents is the need to sit for 6 hours to get 3 CPD points at a conference. That's 2 hours per CPD point. Who seriously has the time? Lodge a submission today and ask for the hours we need to sit at a conference to be reduced. There is no basis for it. Just needless red tape.