Australian Immigration Daily News

On 1 August 2019 the Senate referred the below matters to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 16 October 2019. On 16 September 2019 the Senate extended the reporting date to the last sitting day in February 2020. The terms of reference for the inquiry are as follows: 

The impact of changes to service delivery models on the administration and running of Government programs, with particular reference to:

1. the privatisation of Australia’s visa and citizenship program, including:

• the integrity of Australia’s visa and citizenship system,
• the commercial implications and increased costs to industry, with particular regard for the tourism and higher education sectors,
• the implications to national security, data security and privacy, and
• the risk to public sector employment – especially rural and regional employment – through service delivery model changes

Migration Alliance has been in communication with the Committee in Canberra and has taken the position that we will wait until AFTER the public hearings being held in Canberra tomorrow, listen to what other parties have to say, then make our  final submission in writing next week.   Originally, the report date was earlier, but now it has been extended, so there is plenty of time for our submission.  

Importantly for our profession, the MIA, RILC and the Migration Council of Australia will be giving evidence to the Inquiry at 2:15PM tomorrow, 1 November at Parliament House, Canberra.  The proceedings may be broadcast on the Australian Parliament House website.   It is Migration Alliance's strong suggestion that our members listen to the evidence given tomorrow, make notes, and then email your comments, including any suggestions, objections and support statements made by the MIA and / or RILC / Migration Council of Australia directly to us.  Migration Alliance plans to make a robust and informed submission in the week following the hearing.

We encourage Migration Alliance to email all comments, suggestions, objections and support statements via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Wednesday, 6 November 2019 at 4PM. 

Migration Alliance will add the comments from members to our final submission, which will be delivered to the Committee on Friday, 8 November 2019.  It is important that all of our voices are taken into consideration, and in the most potent format possible.     With over 5000 RMA members, our submission will be important.