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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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Sunday, 31 July 2016HEAR, HEAR
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Thursday, 28 July 2016
+1
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Thursday, 28 July 2016
I stopped attending DIBP road shows about 7 years ago. The fact the MIA still hosts the DIBP is like a hand fitting into a glove. I stopped my membership to the MIA about 7 years ago too. The DIBP and MIA are good for one another. All these road shows do is teach RMAs how to conform, not how to represent their clients using the law. Yawn!
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Friday, 29 July 2016
I attended the meeting in Sydney on Wednesday and found the DIBP participants open and interested in the views expressed from the floor. Of course no such event is perfect by any means (they never can be with so many different agendas and levels of experience in the room) but it was, at least, an open and respectful dialogue. I found the presentations useful in fleshing out the information already provided in the newsletter and PAM. The senior DIBP people who attended openly offered to address issues if they were brought to their attention by email after the event. One of my team did just that yesterday (Thursday) morning and had a direct reply (not an automated message) within the hour and a call from the Case Officer later in the day. My colleague discussed the issue in detail with the CO, the error was acknowledged and visas were granted within the hour. Now the error should definitely not have occurred in the first place but to have such a quick response from the Department was appreciated by my colleague - and of course by our clients who now hold their 457 visas. So, in summary, not perfect (and probably never will be) but certainly worth the time it took IMHO.
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Tuesday, 02 August 2016
So is the problema lack of supervision of the minions who are making the decisions?
It is all very well to have the bosses "engaged" but unless they are making the decisions and are available to intervene when an application is hitting the wall, then it is all just talk, talk, talk.
Consider the following scenario, an RMA contacted me to complain about a refusal of a visa for a 457 because there was no valid sponsorship. The problem was that the case officer decided the visa application first BEFORE turning his or her mind to the SBS/Nom. These mistakes simply should not happen. -
Tuesday, 02 August 2016
Of course mistakes shouldn't happen in the first place but they do whether we like it or not. And when they do happen (as they always will despite training, supervision etc) there needs to be a way of contacting either the case officer or someone who can intervene and put the matter back on track. The senior manager at the Road Show offered to assist in cases that are escalated to her and she was good to her word on this occasion. Will I get similar assistance on every occasion that I raise cases? Perhaps yes, perhaps no - but I did get the promised help on this occasion and was grateful for it.
Immigration blog
Roadshow...more like a road accident.
These "roadshows" are dressed up as "consultations" when in fact all of the decisions have been made, the Regs are in place and now DIBP wants to talk about it?
These events are a monumental waste of time and DIBP is not interested in any views which might traverse theirs.
They are incapable of consultation as they believe they know best.
The last review of the 457 visa regime was, in my view a talkfest by hand picked appointees who would have had their riding orders from the Minister, who is by reason of temperament and disposition, the cats paw of DIBP.
Ministers simply do not have the time or the interest in sorting these issues out.
The DIBP sets the agenda, makes the rules and policy and then makes all of the decisions.
The reason why 457 visas are a dogs breakfast and are full of discretionary rubbish about "genuine position" and LMT etc...is because DIBP imagines a world where businesses simply do not actually need to recruit anyone other than a PR or citizen.
DIBP and the Unions are hostile to the very idea of the 457 visa regime and will often get in the way of the legitimate needs of Australian business.
I have better things to do than attend these catastrophically boring propaganda sessions where DIBP says what they are going to do and case officers actually do whatever they feel like.