Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2019

Summary

Introduced with the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Bill 2019, the bill amends the Migration Act 1958 to: remove unrestricted legal practitioners from the regulatory scheme that governs migration agents; allow eligible restricted legal practitioners to be both registered migration agents and restricted legal practitioners for a period of up to two years; enable the time period in which a person can be considered an applicant for repeat registration as a migration agent to be specified in delegated legislation; remove the 12-month time limit within which a person must apply for registration following completion of a prescribed course; clarify that the powers under Part 3 of the Act are exercisable by the minister; enable the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) to refuse an application to become a registered migration agent where an applicant has failed to provide information or answer questions in relation to their application; require registered migration agents to notify MARA if they have paid the non-commercial application charge for their current period of registration but give immigration assistance otherwise than on a non-commercial basis; and provide that the definitions of 'immigration assistance' and 'makes immigration representations' include assisting a person in relation to a request to the minister to exercise his or her power under the Act to revoke a character-related visa refusal or cancellation decision.

Progress

House of Representatives
Introduced and read a first time	27 Nov 2019
Second reading moved	27 Nov 2019
Second reading debate	12 Feb 2020
Second reading agreed to	12 Feb 2020
Third reading agreed to	12 Feb 2020

Senate
Introduced and read a first time	13 Feb 2020
Second reading moved	13 Feb 2020
Second reading debate	12 Jun 2020
Second reading debate	15 Jun 2020
Second reading agreed to	15 Jun 2020
Committee of the Whole debate	15 Jun 2020
Third reading agreed to	15 Jun 2020


Finally passed both Houses	15 Jun 2020
Assent Act no: 71 Year: 2020	22 Jun 2020

Documents and transcripts

Text of bill

First reading

As passed by both Houses

Explanatory memoranda

Explanatory memorandum

Transcript of speeches

Proposed amendments

Senate

Australian Greens [sheet 8957]
MCKIM, Sen Nick

Schedules of amendments

No documents at present

Bills digest

Bills Digest

Notes

Referred to Committee (28/11/2019): Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (27/02/2020)
Considered by scrutiny committee (05/12/2019): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 1 of 2020
An electronic version of this Act is available on the Federal Register of Legislation (www.legislation.gov.au)

Helpful information

Text of bill

First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament
Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house.
As passed by both houses: Final text of bill agreed to by both the House of Representatives and the Senate which is presented to the Governor-General for assent.

Explanatory memoranda

Explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and provides an explanation of the content of the introduced version (first reading) of the bill.
Supplementary explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains amendments proposed by the government to the bill.
Revised explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains the amended version (third reading) of the bill. It supersedes the explanatory memorandum.

Proposed amendments

Circulated by members and senators when they propose to make changes to the bill. For details about the outcome of proposed amendments please refer to either the Votes and Proceedings (House of Representatives) or the Journals (Senate).

Schedules of amendments

Schedules of amendments list amendments agreed to by the second house are communicated to the first house for consideration. Subsequent action by either house may also be included in a schedule.