437
IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
PORTFOLIO
CATEGORY
NUMBER OF BODIES
A. Departmental Bodies
8
A1. Department of State
1
A2. Functions with Distinct Branding
0
A3. Ministerial Councils
1
A4. Joint Commonwealth-State Bodies
1
A5. International Bodies
0
A6. Advisory Bodies
5
B. Departmental Bodies Recognised in Legislation
1
B1. Statutory Authorities, Statutory Committees and Royal Commissions
1
B2. Statutory Office Holders
0
B3. Business Operations
0
C. Prescribed Agencies under the FMA Act
1
D. Commonwealth Authorities under the CAC Act
0
E. Statutory Corporations
(that are neither Commonwealth Authorities nor encompassed in an FMA Act Agency)
0
F. Commonwealth Companies under the CAC Act
0
F1. Limited by Guarantee
0
F2. Limited by Shares
0
G. Other Companies
1
G1. Limited by Guarantee
1
G2. Limited by Shares
0
H. Other Entities
0
H1. Partnerships and Joint Ventures
0
H2. Incorporated Associations
0
H3. Trusts
0
TOTAL
11
List of Australian Government Bodies and Governance Relationships as at 1 October 2009
IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP PORTFOLIO 438
A.
A. DEPARTMENTAL BODIES
A1. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Department of Immigration and Citizenship (the Department)
Creation Date: 27 January 2006
Established By/Under: Australian Constitution, also Administrative Arrangements Order
Annual Report Tabled: Yes, section 63 of the Public Service Act 1999 (PS Act)
GFS Classification: GGS
Materiality: Material
ABN: 33 380 054 835
Web Site: www.immi.gov.au
Departments of State are recognised under section 64 of the
Constitution, the Administrative Arrangements Order, the Financial
Management and Accountability Act 1997 and the PS Act.
The Department develops policy and administers programs for the
purpose of managing the entry and settlement of people into
Australia.
List of Australian Government Bodies and Governance Relationships as at 1 October 2009
IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP PORTFOLIO 439
A. DEPARTMENTAL BODIES
A3. MINISTERIAL COUNCILS
Ministerial Council on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
Creation Date: August 1946
Constituted By: Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and State and Territory
Ministers with direct responsibility for immigration and multicultural
and ethnic affairs.
Annual Report Tabled: No
Web Site: No current web site available
The Council is chaired by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
and meets annually to consider and resolve issues of mutual concern.
List of Australian Government Bodies and Governance Relationships as at 1 October 2009
IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP PORTFOLIO 440
A. DEPARTMENTAL BODIES
A4. JOINT COMMONWEALTH-STATE BODIES
Standing Committee on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
Creation Date: August 1946
Constituted By: Secretary of the Department and Heads of State and Territory
agencies with portfolio responsibility for immigration and
multicultural/ethnic affairs.
Annual Report Tabled: No
Web Site: No current web site available
The Committee convenes to discuss and coordinate policy on matters
relating to immigration, settlement, citizenship and multicultural
affairs. The Committee also provides advice to the Ministerial Council
on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.
List of Australian Government Bodies and Governance Relationships as at 1 October 2009
IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP PORTFOLIO 441
A. DEPARTMENTAL BODIES
A6. ADVISORY BODIES
Australian Multicultural Advisory Council
Creation Date: 17 December 2008
Constituted By: 16 members
Appointed By: Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Annual Report Tabled: No
Web Site: www.immi.gov.au/about/stakeholder-engagement
The Council advises the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary for
Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services on social cohesion issues
relating to Australia's cultural and religious diversity.
Detention Health Advisory Group
Creation Date: 27 March 2006
Constituted By: Chair and 10 members. Commonwealth Ombudsman is an observer.
Appointed By: Secretary of the Department
Annual Report Tabled: No
Web Site: www.immi.gov.au/about/stakeholder-engagement
The Group was established in response to recommendations detailed
in the Report of the Palmer Inquiry into the Cornelia Rau Matter.
The Group meets four times a year to advise the Department on the
design, implementation and monitoring of improvements in detention
health care policy and procedures.
Council for Immigration Services and Status Resolution
Creation Date: September 2009
Constituted By: 10 advisory group members
Appointed By: Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Annual Report Tabled: No
Web Site: www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders
The Council advises the Minister on the development of policies,
processes, services and programs necessary to achieve the timely,
fair and effective resolution of immigration status for people seeking
asylum or other migration outcomes in Australia.
List of Australian Government Bodies and Governance Relationships as at 1 October 2009
IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP PORTFOLIO 442
A. DEPARTMENTAL BODIES
Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council
Creation Date: April 1997
Constituted By: 10 members
Appointed By: Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (appointments approved by
Cabinet)
Annual Report Tabled: No
Web Site: www.immi.gov.au/about/stakeholder-engagement
The Council advises the Minister on matters relating to the settlement
of entrants into the Humanitarian Program.
Skilled Migration Consultative Panel
Creation Date: 8 July 2008
Constituted By: 4 State governments (NSW, Qld, Vic, WA), 4 industry groups
(Australian Industry Group, Australian Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, Minerals Council of Australia, Business Council of Australia),
and 4 representatives from the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
Appointed By: Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Annual Report Tabled: No
Web Site: www.immi.gov.au/about/plans/regulatory
The Panel acts as a consultative body for the Skilled Migration
Interdepartmental Committee.
The Panel convenes as required to consider and advise the
Australian Government on skilled migration matters referred to it by
the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.
List of Australian Government Bodies and Governance Relationships as at 1 October 2009
IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP PORTFOLIO 443
B.
B. DEPARTMENTAL BODIES RECOGNISED IN LEGISLATION
B1. STATUTORY AUTHORITIES, STATUTORY COMMITTEES AND
ROYAL COMMISSIONS
Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA)
Creation Date: 23 March 1998
Established By/Under: Migration Act 1958, section 275
Constituted By: Chief Executive Officer of the MARA and an advisory board
Appointed By: Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, who has delegated his
powers to the Office of the MARA within the Department.
Annual Report Tabled: Yes, section 322 of the Migration Act 1958
ABN: 33 380 054 835 (the Department)
Web Site: www.themara.com.au
The MARA regulates the migration advice profession and protects its
consumers.
Since 1 July 2009, the MARA operates through the Office of the MARA,
within the Department, following a decision by the Minister to revoke
previous arrangements under the Act.
From 23 March 1998 until 30 June 2009, the Migration Institute of
Australia (MIA) was appointed as the MARA, by legislative instrument
under section 315 of the Act. The MIA is the peak professional
association of migration agents in Australia.
On 1 July 2009, the Minister revoked the appointment of the MIA.
The Minister has delegated the powers of the MARA, under section 320
of the Act, to the Office of the MARA, a discrete office within the
Department.
The Office of the MARA is assisted by an advisory board, comprising
representatives of the MIA, the Law Council of Australia, universities,
the not-for-profit immigration assistance sector, consumer and
community advocates, the Department and the Chief Executive
Officer of the Office of the MARA. The Chair of the board is
independent of the Department and the migration advice profession
and reports directly to the Minister.
List of Australian Government Bodies and Governance Relationships as at 1 October 2009
IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP PORTFOLIO 444
C.
C. PRESCRIBED AGENCIES UNDER THE FMA ACT
Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal
(MRT-RRT)
Creation Date: Prescribed on 1 July 2006 as a single agency for the purposes of
Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act).
Established By/Under: Migration Act 1958, section 394
Constituted By: 95 members comprising 1 principal member, an MRT and an RRT
deputy principal member, 5 senior members, 24 full-time members
and 65 part-time members
Appointed By: Governor-General
Annual Report Tabled: Yes, an annual report is prepared in accordance with the
Requirements for Annual Reports for Departments, Executive
Agencies and FMA Act Bodies approved by the Joint Committee of
Public Accounts and Audit.
GFS Classification: GGS
Materiality: Small
ABN: 50 760 799 564
Web Site: www.mrt-rrt.gov.au
The Migration Review Tribunal (the MRT) and the Refugee Review
Tribunal (the RRT) provide an independent and final merits review of
decisions made in relation to visas to travel to, enter or stay in
Australia. The MRT reviews decisions made in respect of general visas
(e.g. visitor, student, partner, family, business, and skilled visas) and
the RRT deals with decisions made in respect of protection (refugee)
visas.
The MRT and the RRT are separate agencies for the purposes of the
Act, but a single agency for the purposes of the FMA Act and the
Public Service Act 1999.
List of Australian Government Bodies and Governance Relationships as at 1 October 2009
IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP PORTFOLIO 445
G.
G. OTHER COMPANIES
G1. COMPANIES LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
National Accreditation Authority for Translators and
Interpreters Ltd (NAATI)
Creation Date: 3 October 1984
Governed By: 5 directors
Appointed By: The members of the company nominate the directors, who are then
formally appointed by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.
Annual Report Tabled: No
Auditor: Hardwicke’s Chartered Accountants
ABN: 42 008 596 996
ACN: 008 596 996
Web Site: www.naati.com.au
NAATI is a national standards body jointly owned by Commonwealth,
State and Territory governments. It is also an advisory body for the
Translation and Interpreting industry, providing advice and
consultancy services on industry standards, accreditation, the role and
conduct of translators.
The company has 9 members, comprising Commonwealth, State and
Territory ministers responsible for multicultural and ethnic affairs.
List of Australian Government Bodies and Governance Relationships as at 1 October 2009