JSCM to hold inquiry over Australia Migration Agents

Australian Parliament’s JSCM will hold inquiry over Australia Migration Agents. Alex Hawke the Home Affairs Assistant Minister has asked the Joint Standing Committee on Migration to inquire into the effectiveness of the current laws governing Australia Migration Agents.

The inquiry will be done by the JSCM chaired by Jason Wood. He said in a press release that immigration agents in Australia play a vital role in the immigration programs of Australia. They assist skilled immigrants, students, and businesses with their applications for Australia visas, he added.

Jason Wood said that unlawful or unregistered immigration agents harm the credibility of the visa regime. They also have a significant influence on the lives of applicants of visas and their families, he added, as quoted by the House of Representatives Cmail19.

The terms of reference have also been revealed by the press release. It says that the inquiry will examine the efficiency of existing laws for the immigration agents. The committee shall specifically have regard to:

• Assess the regulation and registration of Australia Migration Agents that includes payment, education, proficiency in English, fees structure, stringency and suitability of the accreditation process, and evidence for deficiencies
• The prevalence and nature of fraud, professionals’ wrongdoings, and other violations by Registered Migration Agents, the existing mechanisms for review of migration agents, and the sufficiency of fines
• Paucity and obstacles to appropriate authorities for investigating fraud by RMAs in visa applications that includes the sufficiency of data and evidence exchange between such authorities
• Evidence of patterns and volumes of unregistered immigration agents and education consultants offering illegal immigration services in Australia
• Examining the suitability of other services offered by migration agents to clients

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