Forged Document Rackets

Although it seemed to go unnoticed in the mainstream media, there was a DIAC-Australian Federal Police raid on a migration agent's business in Sydney this week. The allegation is that the Australian citizen registered agent is involved in providing falsified documents to mainly the Chinese community.

There was a similar raid in Melbourne in March where it is alleged documents were being prepared for students wishing to apply for permanent residence in various trade occupations.

Both times, the Minister said:

1. Illegal activity by migration agents attacks the heart of Australia's visa programs and will not be tolerated;
   
2. People who obtain permanent visas based on falsified documentation can have their visas cancelled; and
   
3. The operation highlighted the need for a greater level of scrutiny on the migration advice profession.

The problem with these comments is that it is not the mainstream migration profession that is to blame - it is a small group (whether in the profession or not) who are engaging in criminal activity and who are preying on vulnerable people who desperately want to stay in Australia.

It would be unfortunate if tougher requirements are made of all because of the activity of a few, but unfortunately that's the way regulation usually goes.

Overcharging

There has been a lot of press recently about overcharging by lawyers (or more precisely, overcharging by one particular firm of lawyers in Sydney). Click here to see some of those press reports.

The problem that I have is about punishment and sanctions. Mr Keddie (the principal of the firm) has made his fortune in life (at the expense of his clients). Any punishment he is given by fine or being barred from future practice won't really make much difference to him. Contrast that with a (probably not too smart) young person who robs a service station or convenience store and possible gets a few hundred or a few thousand dollars. This person is likely to find themselves in jail. I don't think we have the proportionality right here!

Photo used under creative commons license: http://www.flickr.com/photos/infomofo/139808866/