The Morrison Government has taken steps to eliminate unnecessary regulations for legal practitioners that provide immigration assistance, as part of a significant reform package for the migration advice industry.

Today, the Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Jason Wood MP, has introduced legislation to remove legal practitioners from the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) regulatory scheme.

The 2014 Independent Review of the OMARA recommended legal practitioners be removed from the regulatory scheme governing migration agents. The Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2019 draws from these recommendations.

Mr Wood said that this Bill reflects the Government’s deregulation agenda and removes the unnecessary administrative burden of dual regulation of these lawyers who are already subject to a strict professional regulatory regime.

“We are striving for a world class migration advice industry and these amendments will lay the foundation for strengthening the industry and protecting Australia’s best interests.” he said.

“This Bill builds on the recent tough stance taken by the Government to no longer facilitate the provision of immigration advice by unregistered parties.”

The Bill also enables OMARA to refuse an application for registration as a migration agent where the applicant does not respond to a request for further information on an incomplete application.

More information about Australia’s efforts to strengthen regulation to safeguard and enhance the integrity of the migration advice industry is available at: www.mara.gov.au.