Australian Immigration Daily News

MIGRATION ALLIANCE SUPPORTS "HONEST VOICE" JOHN HOURIGAN FOR NSW/ACT PRESIDENT OF THE MIA

The following is the statement provided to Migration Alliance for release, by nominee John Hourigan:

In 2015, I was the sole voice on the NSW/ACT Committee who was against the MIA Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) which was forced on members by the National Executive to overturn a previous decision of members which stopped members from serving more than two consecutive terms as State President and thereby being a member of the National Executive.  Other NSW/ACT committee members changed their position when they realised, a week before the scheduled EGM, that the motion had no chance of success.  I was instrumental in getting the National Executive to abandon the EGM. 

Then later in the year, I had to again rally the membership when the National President moved to amend the constitution at the 2015 AGM despite the decision of the National Executive declaring that constitutional change would only occur through consultations with members during 2015 and 2016.  It appears I have also been successful on this occasion as there has been no further mention of constitutional change this year.  As the NSW/ACT President 2015-17 and a member of the National Executive I will be enforcing the current National Executive’s earlier decision that constitutional change will only occur following full discussion with members.   

Many members know that I have been asking the NSW/ACT Committee and the National Executive, for most of my years as a member, for the release of the minutes of the meetings; and minutes of meetings with the Immigration Department, the Ministers and other stakeholders.  As the NSW/ACT President 2015-17, I will be releasing minutes of meetings to members; and any meetings held with other stakeholders including the NSW and ACT Governments.   

As a member of the National Executive I will be encouraging it to again open its meetings to members and to the release the minutes. 

In particular, I will ensure that where members of the National Executive have meetings with the Minister, the Department and other stakeholders that minutes of these meetings are also released to members.  There will not be a delay of 45 days between a meeting and a news release advising members of that meeting (as has happened over the cap and cease of offshore priority 5 applications). 

In assisting members with client matters I have made over 6,000 posts in the MIA forum and also provide extensive mentoring to agents, whether they are members of the MIA or not.  As NSW/ACT President 2015-17, nothing will change in this regard.  As your State/Territory President I will ask the National Office to amend the website to install a NSW/ACT page to keep members informed of all things MIA.

I operate on the basis of inclusiveness, there are times when the MIA and the MA should be working together for the benefit of all registered migration agents and clients.  As the NSW/ACT President 2015-17, and a member of the National Executive, I will be encouraging the MIA and the MA to work together on matters of common interest.