Sheelagh Blanckenberg
16th August 2009, 12:29 AM
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, today announced the appointment of an advisory board to guide the newly established Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA).
The board, which comprises a representative of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA), the Law Council of Australia, community and consumer advocates, will be chaired by former lawyer and secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department, Robert Cornall.
“I believe that Mr Cornall’s expertise and experience in both the public and legal sectors will be fundamental to the success of the board, which in turn will play a key role in the success of the new regulatory arrangements,” Senator Evans said.
Joining Mr Cornall on the board will be:
* Jenni Mack, Choice Australia, representing consumer groups and deputy chair of the board
* Sonia Caton, Refugee and Immigration Legal Service, representing the not-for-profit immigration assistance sector
* Glenn Ferguson, Ferguson Cannon Lawyers, representing the Law Council of Australia
* Robert Stirling Henry, formerly of Stirling Henry Migration Services, representing the Migration Institute of Australia
* Andrew Holloway, Victoria University, representing the university sector
* Jim McKiernan, former senator, representing the community sector.
The new Office of the MARA commenced operating as regulator of the migration advice profession on July 1, replacing the system established in 1998 where the profession was regulated by the MIA.
Christine Sykes, CEO of the Office of the MARA, and a representative from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship will also serve on the advisory board. Other membership may be considered by the minister from time to time.
Both the advisory board and the Office of the MARA were established after recommendations of the 2007–08 Review of Statutory Self-Regulation of the Migration Advice Profession, which found dissatisfaction amongst consumers and potential conflicts of interest in previous arrangements.
The review recommended that the government establish a regulatory body separate from the MIA to regulate the activities of the Australian migration advice profession to provide consumers with appropriate protection and assurance.
"Unprofessional or unethical behaviour by migration agents can seriously impact on the lives of people using their services and bring the profession into disrepute,” Senator Evans said.
“The new office will implement the relevant recommendations of the review, remove concerns about potential conflicts of interest and provide confidence in the regulation of the migration agent industry.”
More information can be found on The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) website. (http://www.mara.com.au)
.
The board, which comprises a representative of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA), the Law Council of Australia, community and consumer advocates, will be chaired by former lawyer and secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department, Robert Cornall.
“I believe that Mr Cornall’s expertise and experience in both the public and legal sectors will be fundamental to the success of the board, which in turn will play a key role in the success of the new regulatory arrangements,” Senator Evans said.
Joining Mr Cornall on the board will be:
* Jenni Mack, Choice Australia, representing consumer groups and deputy chair of the board
* Sonia Caton, Refugee and Immigration Legal Service, representing the not-for-profit immigration assistance sector
* Glenn Ferguson, Ferguson Cannon Lawyers, representing the Law Council of Australia
* Robert Stirling Henry, formerly of Stirling Henry Migration Services, representing the Migration Institute of Australia
* Andrew Holloway, Victoria University, representing the university sector
* Jim McKiernan, former senator, representing the community sector.
The new Office of the MARA commenced operating as regulator of the migration advice profession on July 1, replacing the system established in 1998 where the profession was regulated by the MIA.
Christine Sykes, CEO of the Office of the MARA, and a representative from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship will also serve on the advisory board. Other membership may be considered by the minister from time to time.
Both the advisory board and the Office of the MARA were established after recommendations of the 2007–08 Review of Statutory Self-Regulation of the Migration Advice Profession, which found dissatisfaction amongst consumers and potential conflicts of interest in previous arrangements.
The review recommended that the government establish a regulatory body separate from the MIA to regulate the activities of the Australian migration advice profession to provide consumers with appropriate protection and assurance.
"Unprofessional or unethical behaviour by migration agents can seriously impact on the lives of people using their services and bring the profession into disrepute,” Senator Evans said.
“The new office will implement the relevant recommendations of the review, remove concerns about potential conflicts of interest and provide confidence in the regulation of the migration agent industry.”
More information can be found on The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) website. (http://www.mara.com.au)
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