Agency to monitor Australian immigration consultants

July 06 2009 by Mark Johnstone

Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA)

Changes to how Australian immigration is regulated

A new regulatory agency has been established to ensure firms giving advice on Australian immigration issues are providing an effective and bona fide service.

The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) has been set up to regulate Australian firms that offer advice to people who have made the move to Australia. Only registered agents are allowed to provide such services for obtaining Australian visas and MARA holds a list of those registered.

MARA replaces the previous Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) agency. Jason Kenney, the Australian immigration minister, announced the replacement of MIA with MARA back in February 2009, stating, “It is important that the community has confidence in the professionalism and integrity of migration agents. The new Office of the MARA will provide that confidence and remove concerns about potential conflicts of interest.”

MARA will be run by Christine Sykes, a senior executive within the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. It will ensure that immigration agencies that offer services like helping people to obtain Australian visas and find work in Australia, are reputable and above-board.

The agency will also be supported by an advisory board including community and consumer advocates and members of the Law Council of Australia.

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