Community opinion

when we were in opposition we did express significant concerns about the regulation of migration agents, and as a consequence of that we’ve recently seen a migration regulatory authority come into existence to regulate that industry better,” he said. “Any of these abuses we of course won’t tolerate and don’t tolerate,” Smith told public broadcaster ABC, referring to the migration scams. “And the cracking down, so far as the migration agents’ regulatory arrangements are concerned will assist in that process.”

The Australian Council for Private Education and Training has said it would launch a register of education agents to help students find honest providers. It admitted that hundreds of private colleges offering courses such as hairdressing, cooking and accounting had sprung up, luring students with false promises of permanent residency in Australia.

Julia Gillard, Deputy Prime Minister was literally forced into accepting that the student situation was dire, and that immediate changes needed to be made to stem the rot.

Maurene Horder, chief executive of the Migration Institute of Australia says the existing regulation framework is not good enough. “The big issue, I think, facing us at the moment isn’t so much the people that are currently regulated, but what we haven’t got is any real action when someone steps outside of the regulatory framework and is acting illegally,” she said. “I think successive governments have been tardy in policing the lack of compliance in the migration advice field. The Government has just established a new jurisdiction over (the migration regulatory authority). But it will have to be given enough teeth to pursue the illegal operators,” she added.

On hearing that the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Education and Employment raided the offices of one of the migration agents featured on Four

AnD WHAT does the Indian community think of the schemes and scams that now shadow some of its most prominent members? Indian Link spoke to a few Indian origin members, who agreed to have their views published, but were unanimous in their decision to speak only on grounds of anonymity. not surprising, considering that the Indian-origin reporter on Four Corners was brutally assaulted following the report, and spent some time in hospital.

“It’s only to be expected,” says Vineet*, a prominent businessman, a leading light in the IT industry. “Indians have a reputation for finding a way around the system, and this is exactly what’s been happening. Everyone, to some degree, is to blame. The students who are looking for easy access into Australia, and don’t mind paying the money as long as they get their PR; the agents who provide the means of getting here; the educational institutions who act as a front for students…And of course, the Australian Government, who is so overwhelmed by the money coming in, that they haven’t bothered to probe into the system. They should have at least shown a degree of vigilance, considering the influx of students.”

“I think it’s all interconnected,” says Deepa*, a casual teacher at an educational institution run by an Indian-origin family. “The immigration agents in India and here are often either related or family friends of the educational institutions and all have close connections with shops and restaurants frequented by Indian students. Once you have the right contacts and the money, applying for a PR is easy because all the right documents are made available to you.”

“Students with a genuine desire to study and get a degree are the worst affected,” reveals Jay*, a young Indian student. “These are the students who will do anything to get their PR, and will spend thousands of dollars for fake certificates and testimonials. On the other hand, genuine ones like us will now find it much harder to apply for a PR, and our cases will always be treated as suspect. The genuine ones have been complaining and making a noise; the fake ones will say nothing, even when they realise that immigration agents and the college are ripping them off. They still think its money worth spending, for the sake of the PR. I can’t understand why they are so desperate!”

“It’s a scam of the Indians, for the Indians and by the Indians,” laughs Meera*, a stay-at-home mum. “I have been following the student issue closely and it is clear that an Indian mafia is operating this very lucrative business. Sometimes I think that these people bring the corruption of India here, as part of their baggage. They will do anything to get rich quick, even at the sacrifice of others.”

“How can immigration agents be so unscrupulous,” questions Rahim, who works for the NSW government. “In India, they’re only concerned with taking the students’ money and their commissions and organising the paperwork and visa. They don’t even ask or advise the students on their plans, whether they’ve done research about the courses or colleges, or even if they have the funds to sustain a lifestyle in Australia. And immigration agents here are no better, with their promises of a PR, and the means to get one. I can’t understand how they’ve managed to evade the law for such a long time.”

The community has also expressed shock and dismay that prominent members have been implicated in the scam. “These are people we know well, whom we meet socially and interact with regularly,” says Anil, who holds a managerial position in a well-established bank. “They have always come across as friendly and helpful. In fact, I know of some cases where they went out of their way to help students. Its only now that we are all realising that the ‘help’ came at a price.”

“Its shocking and appalling, but I am glad that these hypocrites in the Indian community have been finally exposed,” fumes Rahul, who owns his own business. “They give all Indians a bad name. We are all at risk, not just students who have genuinely worked hard at getting the requisite documents, work certificates and even passed the English language test on our own merit. now everyone’s going to scrutinize our PR status, and if the department of Immigration is left to decide if we are genuine PRs or not, I guess we should all start packing our bags!”

“This is just the beginning, just wait and see,” says Anita, a secondary school teacher ominously. “Very soon, scams relating to migrants from India are bound to emerge. If such a degree of corruption exists with students, imagine what immigration agents must be cooking up for general migration. I think the whole immigration process relating to India, and possibly other sub-continent countries, are soon going to be investigated. And I’m sure they’ll find some interesting data which we are likely to never see!”

“I can’t believe that the Australian government could be so naïve,” says Mike. “The least they could have done is put a regulatory body in place, or at least listen to the students who complained, instead of dismissing their pleas out of hand. It also seems to me that the Immigration department aren’t careful in their scrutiny of documents for people applying for PR, which should be rectified immediately. I find it hard to accept that even the English language tests are rigged…I always thought that the level of corruption in Australia was at a minimum. But I guess I was wrong. It’s disappointing to realise that the coils of corruption have even seeped into this country.”

* Names changed at the request of respondents