Lawyers worried about new Australian immigration regulations
July 31 2009 by Mark Johnstone
Kevin Rudd on Australian immigration
The Australian government’s decision to give regulatory powers over migration experts to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has prompted criticism from lawyers.
A report from the Law Council of Australia last year advised regulation would be best placed in the hands of an independent body. The organisation is now worried lawyers will now be subject to regulation over Australian immigration cases by a division of the government.
The Rudd government vowed this week to clamp down on unethical migration ‘experts’ amid protests by overseas students concerning over-charging of Australia visa fees.
Accusations of unscrupulous financial dealings and cases of unethical behaviour levelled at migration experts has shaken Australia’s $15 billion education industry.
The Migration Agents Registraion Authority (MARA) will now be amalgamated within the Department of Immigration. This has ended the possibility for an independent regulation body being set up.
In reaction to the decision, Brisbane lawyer Bruce Henry expressed his concerns in an interview on The Australian website saying: "We've now got a regulator with a vested interest in running out of the profession people they don't like - not just people who are shonky or incompetent but people they don't like."
Australian Immigration minister Chris Evans said this month: "It is important that the community has confidence in the professionalism and integrity of migration agents.”
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