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DIBP reaches out to MA
I can’t remember how long it has been since I had heard from DIBP or when the last “consultation” was but out of the blue, the Convenor, Liana Allan, received a stern letter from The NSW State Director, directing that MA cease and desist offering membership cards and practising certificates.
Unfortunately she (Liana Allan) only became aware of the communication after the elections for MA had been called and all positions declared vacant.
Accordingly, in my capacity as the Public Officer of MA, I was obliged to formulate a reply.
I attach a copy of my letter which I emailed yesterday.
DIBP (OMARA) say they have a number of “concerns” about the offering.
I do not share those concerns and I think this is simply another attempt to control MA.
However it is good to know that DIBP regularly reads the blogs and immigration news.
I for one think this is beat up.
What a shame DIBP unilaterally decided to scrap identification cards for RMAs.
I can hardly wait for our next “consultation”.
I would like to know what your concerns are, can you please let us know?
SAMPLE OF PREVIOUS OMARA CERTIFICATE DESIGNS FOR COMPARISON, BELOW:
Comments
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Tuesday, 26 July 2016I simply don't get this. If I want to create a business card myself with the same information on it, then what is the problem? It doesn't even have the government logo on it. How oppressive. It becomes a problem when a lack of legal skill and too much power come together.
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Tuesday, 26 July 2016
AYFKM?
To think these people are responsible for regulating the profession. They get annoyed when we do something professional. There's no loss. There's nothing wrong. I have bought the card. It helps the client. More than anything, it's helpful to stamp out crooks. I am at a loss as to why DIBP or OMARA would not want these. I would have thought they would support any initiative that encouraged registration and client protection. -
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Spend more time employing competent case officers and stop giving excuses on why there are delays on processing applications. Instead of IDIOTS who sit on their elevated positions, waving their disapproval on people in the industry who are actually trying to show integrity.
If DIBP ever becomes a privatised entity, I am sure to put my hands up for it. It's a perfect business where the customer has to pay whether they get a positive or negative result. Pay even more, when the department gets it wrong and an applicant having to challenge this wrongful decision. -
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
DIBP Directors in their Ivory Towers. Strange! Very strange to see them writing something so completely oppressive and out of their depth. It's quite infantile and legally flawed.
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Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Is this a joke? Can someone please show us the original letter from DIBP asking for us to cease and desist having cards which say we are registered by OMARA? I am reluctant to believe that DIBP would put something like this in writing.
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Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Maybe, just maybe the DIBP can spend their time on better things like this:
https://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pgwOVkeXOG?play=true
Weeding out dodgy migration agents. Doesn't look like Migration Alliance are trying to do anything wrong here. Looks like Migration Alliance are trying to improve the industry.
Looks like DIBP are trying to criticise them for doing so. It makes no sense to me.
DIBP are failing at so many levels. From bad decisions. Bad English language.
OMARA are given knowledge and complaints to consider but do nothing to intervene in cases like Dennis Allan. They have powers to refer to police and other agencies but don't do so.
DIBP are slow to jump on people doing the right thing, but fast to send out letters like the one from this Director, trying to 'control' people doing the right thing.
Quite frankly the OMARA are ill-equipped and ill-educated to deal with regulation of migration agents.
Migration Alliance once called for an Independent Immigration Commission. That was a good idea. That way the regulator would have skills.
Why doesn't the OMARA create a fidelity fund with the registration fees paid?
Can someone do an FOI on whether anyone at the OMARA is a solicitor or has legal training?
OMARA is a case of regulatory failure.
OMARA is part of the DIBP.
1/3 of us are lawyers.
As for Erskine Rodan saying that he gets referred cases where migration agents have messed up, and he gets them, 'they think they are lawyers and they are not, they don't have the knoweldge'. Awful!
There are plenty of lawyers who don't know anything about migration law. -
Wednesday, 27 July 2016
Dear Christopher Levingston and colleagues
Lack of issuing certificates and cards for registered migration agents is actually a move in favour of shonky migration agents and those who falsely claim to be migration agents or migration lawyers.
There are individuals who go around our communities and claim to be employees of the DIBP and promise people visas in return for "cash". These individuals actually claim to be in the decision-making ranks of the DIBP.
Now the essential factual question is that: "Isn't this decision of not issuing certificates and cards for us by MARA a solid move in favour of those shonky migration agents and shonky migration lawyers who misuse the system to rip off desperate clients or applicants?"
We know that MARA cannot fight on behalf of any clients against those shonky migration agents who deceive poor clients and charge them for their illegal services. In my professional view, to fight any form of corruptions MARA must change its decision and reissue us our Certificates and Cards.
MARA should directly meet with us to tackle this issue professionally within the boundaries of our Immigration Laws and Rules.
Thank you.
Regards
A Registered Migration Agent -
Wednesday, 27 July 2016
After attending the DIBP 457 presentation this morning I am lucky I don't have to walk across any bridges to get home. I feel devoid of any hope that DIBP won't drain the life out of me. How many times did we hear about DIBP initiatives this morning, or lack thereof, and the freakin' 457 newsletter? I left after 2 hours, it was an insult to my intelligence.
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Thursday, 28 July 2016
Where were you Tanya? What initiatives?
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Thursday, 28 July 2016
The newsletter Ronald, the newsletter. If you say it enough it changes from initiative to initiatives!
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Wednesday, 27 July 2016
I support MA in producing these necessary cards and Certs. I was fobbed off with various 'reasons' when I didn't receive the old DIBP ones last year. I bet they don't reduce our exorbitant rego fees despite losing another service from them next year.
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Thursday, 28 July 2016
Thank you Christopher for that on-the-point rebuke to yet another DIBP giddiness-infected honcho.
Thank you also for your consistently vociferous stance against injustice. I'm proud to have such a colleague in our midst. -
Thursday, 28 July 2016
Continue printing the cards and issue them and let DIBP challenge their case in a court of law.
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Thursday, 28 July 2016
Is this oppression? Seriously, is it?
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Thursday, 28 July 2016
Tanya can you tell us what the newsletter is titled and where it came from? Is it the 457 newsletter or something else?
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Thursday, 28 July 2016
It is the 457 newsletter. At yesterday's meeting the 457 Director keep going on about new initiatives and all we heard about was the useless newsletter.
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Thursday, 28 July 2016
Tanya, which meeting? Where was it and do you have any information about it? The 457 newsletter is so useless.
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Thursday, 28 July 2016
The MIA 457 Roadshow which was held in Sydney yesterday. It made the newsletter look good.
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Thursday, 28 July 2016
When may a public servant be sued in tort? LIABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AIAdminLawF/2002/12.pdf
Immigration blog
Why would DIBP ask someone not to print something which is the equivalent to a business card?
There is nothing on the certificate or PVC card which is any different to information already contained on a business card. Nothing.
In fact, if anything, there's more security around it as it has a QR code pointing to the MARA's own website so a customer can check, real-time, if an RMA is still registered.
Perhaps the DIBP don't like it that they can't control the universe.