It's not a cage fight or even mixed martial arts. It's the gentle art of warfare by paper.
Legal Training Australia (LTA) is arguing a matter before Judge Cameron today at 2:15pm. The location will be Level 8, Court 8.3, 80 William Street, Sydney.
The issue that LTA seeks to ventilate is the form and structure of the CPD scheme and the policy that OMARA applies to applications by approved CPD providers.
What LTA is trying to do is to deliver a conference which will not only educate RMAs as against the CPD requirements, but also deliver a program that is interesting, relevant and no longer than 2 days for 10 CPD points, as opposed to 3 days (18 hours) and 9 CPD points.
LTA argues that the current policy is both nonsensical and without any proper basis, and that the rule "application of a rule or policy without regard to the merits of the case" would see the OMARA fail and LTA prevail.
LTA has retained Christopher Levingston and Associates as it's solicitors and David Hume as Counsel. Both myself and Eugenia Anang from my office will be at court.
If LTA can win this case, then LTA can once again offer a migration agent conference which actually meets the needs of RMAs and provides real opportunities for learning and networking. LTA's aim is for a conference to be informative, engaging and fun, with large numbers of participants. LTA thinks that the class-size restriction is, in essence, anti-competitive and has no proper forensic basis.
If you want to be treated like any other professional, who can attend a conference where it is 1 hour for 1 CPD point then come along and support LTA today 6/11/2014.
All migration agents are invited to attend. Come along and enjoy the spectacle.
great reply ' RMA without a cause '
the unemployable deadwood working in OMARA create more work for themselves and enjoy the over regulation and waste they feed on .
I am VERY disappointed the Cash /Morrison appointed CEO has failed to tackle waste , transfer or remove incompetent staff and work with the profession . More importantly the CEO has failed to respond to genuine concerns and criticism .Chris Livingstone's very serious criticism of Professional Standards is totally ignored by the CEO . Chris is one of Australia's TOP migration lawyers ...when he has concerns the CEO should LISTEN
This got me wondering what's happened to the independent review into OMARA: http://www.immi.gov.au/pub-res/pages/reviews-and-inquiries/independent-review-omara.aspx
Sorry I can't be in Sydney today as I live in Melbourne. I wish Chris good luck and I wish we will win this case. Thanks Chris for a job well done.