Some clarity into the Parliamentary inquiry into migration agents

[Raul Senise]

I am writing this to offer some clarity and context in regard to the Parliamentary Enquiry (as recently highlighted in the July Pomsinoz Newsletter) as I believe that it has generally been misreported in the media, causing much confusion. The reporting by the media does not make a clear distinction between “Registered Migration Agents “and student visa consultants, illegal practices or unregistered overseas operators.

The reporting states that it is an enquiry into “dodgy migration agents” which is deceptive.

Only “Registered Migration Agents” are Migration Agents. Student consultants, unregistered, illegal and overseas operators are not Migration Agents as they have not passed the strict Regulatory requirements to become a Registered Migration Agent and maintain yearly registration. As such calling everyone who operates in the industry, including illegal operators, Migration Agents in not correct.

The reporting also states that “The inquiry also comes off the back of a growing number of complaints in the sector. According to Department of Home Affairs figures, there were 800 complaints against registered migration agents last year - up from just over 600 in 2014.”

Again, these figures do not paint the true picture as it would appear that 800 complaints were made against “Registered Migration Agents”, which is not true.

Official figures from the Regulatory Body, OMARA (see here), show that for the 6 month period from July to December 2017 it received 398 complaints (which would account for the claimed 800 figure for the full 12 months). However, of these 398 complaints, 292 (almost 75%) were dismissed. One of the main reasons for dismissal was because the OMARA had no jurisdiction as the complaints were about “unregistered individuals”. Of the remaining 106 complaints only 16 resulted in sanctions against the “Registered Migration Agent”.

The Registered Migration Agent industry has been calling on the Government for many years to do something about unregistered overseas operators and illegal operators, as we see the damage they cause on a regular basis.

As a Registered Migration Agent, I welcome the Parliamentary Inquiry into the industry but am disappointed to see it being misreported as an attack on Registered operators.

[rammygirl]

Typical lazy journalism.  Like the reporting about the citizenship changes.  They all just repeat the same stuff as fact without bothering to check and verify the information.

Sometimes it suits them as it makes better headlines, unfortunately too many people believe everything they read.......

[Raul Senise]

41 minutes ago, rammygirl said:

Typical lazy journalism.  Like the reporting about the citizenship changes.  They all just repeat the same stuff as fact without bothering to check and verify the information.

Sometimes it suits them as it makes better headlines, unfortunately too many people believe everything they read.......

True.

In this article on the subject from SBS, the journalist wrote "according to government figures, there were more than 7,300 complaints against registered migration agents last year". They eventually printed a correction after I contacted SBS, however, no apology or even an explanation as to where they had come up with these grossly inflated, imaginary figures. By the time the correction was printed, the damage was done.

The article goes under the heading of dodgy migration agents, yet primarily tells the story of people being ripped off by an education agency.