A report published on 2 October 2026 says the Australian government is considering tighter rules for migration advice and a Home Affairs taskforce targeting unlawful advisers. These are reported proposals, not confirmed new law: the available official guidance still describes the existing framework, and no final policy wording or commencement date is established.
What the reported proposals would change
The syndicated report says Assistant Minister for Citizenship Julian Hill planned to outline proposed changes to the migration-agent code of conduct and a dedicated Department of Home Affairs taskforce. It does not establish that the measures were enacted or that the taskforce has begun operating. Read the syndicated report.
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A proposed standard for registered migration agents
According to the report, one proposed amendment would prohibit a registered migration agent from helping with an application the agent knows, or reasonably ought to know, has no reasonable factual or legal basis. The report says this would replace a provision allowing an agent to proceed with a futile application if the client acknowledged in writing that they understood it was futile. That is a description of a proposed change, not a statement of the current rule or final wording. The report’s account of the proposed amendment.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHill was reported as distinguishing baseless claims from difficult but properly grounded cases: the stated aim was not to prevent complex applications that have a reasonable basis. That position comes from reported speech content, not an independently reviewed transcript. The account of Hill’s reported remarks.
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A taskforce aimed at unlawful advisers
The report says the proposed taskforce would target people posing as “fake agents” and giving migration advice unlawfully, including through Facebook, social media and other online channels. It describes possible administrative measures such as infringement notices, alongside prosecution, and an intent to disrupt business models. The source does not establish the taskforce’s powers, operating arrangements or start date. The reported taskforce proposal.
Possible policy work concerning lawyers
The report says Hill intended to seek policy options concerning lawyers and work with the Attorney-General and state and territory counterparts. It describes a government concern that migration-related legal work may sit across different regulatory systems, with referrals from Home Affairs going to professional or licensing bodies and limited visibility of outcomes. This is a reported policy concern; it does not mean lawyers are generally unregulated or that any particular lawyer has been found guilty. The account of the reported policy work.
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What conduct the report describes—and what it does not prove
The account attributes several patterns to the Department of Home Affairs: a lawyer linked to multiple temporary-protection applications by undocumented air arrivals with broadly similar claims; sponsored-parent visa applications involving questionable identity and supporting documents; and a high-volume employer-sponsored practice involving companies linked to entities previously sanctioned or liquidated. The source does not provide enough underlying case material to test those accounts independently. They should be understood as reported examples or allegations, not established findings of misconduct. The reported examples.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The article also describes online advertisements said to coach people to make false claims about sexuality or persecution. In a draft speech, Hill was quoted as saying, “That’s not legal representation. It’s a misuse of the migration system for profit.” The report also attributes to the draft the remarks, “Some of the worst, sharpest practice I see in my electorate office and ministerial work is actually by lawyers,” and, “Ultimately, I do not have confidence in the policy regime around how lawyers interact with the migration system.” These are quotations attributed to a draft, not verified extracts from a delivered speech. The account of the draft-speech quotations.
Who can lawfully provide paid immigration assistance now
Current Home Affairs guidance distinguishes three categories of people who may provide immigration assistance: registered migration agents, Australian legal practitioners and exempt persons. The department says only registered migration agents and legal practitioners can lawfully charge for immigration assistance. A legal practitioner, for this purpose, holds a practising certificate issued by an Australian state or territory and may provide immigration assistance in connection with legal practice. Exempt people may assist only within applicable limits. Home Affairs: Who can help with your visa application.
Home Affairs defines immigration assistance broadly. It can include preparing or helping prepare a visa application or another document, advising about a visa matter, or representing or preparing someone for proceedings before a court or review authority. Home Affairs: Immigration assistance.
How to check an adviser and protect your application
- Check a migration agent: Search the official Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) register before engaging an agent. Home Affairs guidance on finding and reporting an adviser.
- Check a lawyer: Use the Law Council of Australia directory or the relevant state or territory legal professional body to verify a legal practitioner. Home Affairs guidance on finding a legal practitioner.
- Get the arrangement in writing: Ask for a clear written agreement and receipts, and keep copies of documents and communications. Do not give an adviser permission to submit information you know is false.
- Report suspected unlawful advice: Home Affairs directs people to Border Watch to report suspected unlawful or unethical operators. Complaints about registered migration agents can be made to OMARA. The department says complaining about a registered agent will not affect your visa application. Home Affairs reporting and complaint guidance.
Home Affairs warns that unregistered advisers may advertise on social media or in online chat groups, give incorrect advice, encourage false or misleading claims or documents, and expose applicants to serious visa consequences. Its protection-visa information says those visas are for people with qualifying protection needs, not simply people seeking to extend a stay to work. Home Affairs: Protect yourself from visa scams and false claims.
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OMARA cannot order a registered migration agent to refund fees. If your dispute is about fees, Home Affairs says you may need to contact the consumer-protection office in your state or territory. A complaint does not guarantee a refund or a particular regulatory outcome. Home Affairs guidance on complaints and refunds.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unresolved
The 2 October 2026 report is the source for the proposed code changes, taskforce and concerns about legal-practice oversight. The materials available do not establish final rules, enforcement thresholds, investigative powers, transparency arrangements, review rights or safeguards in any enacted scheme. Nor do they provide a primary-source, independently verified count of affected applications, advisers or outcomes. The proposals should therefore not be treated as a change in the rules applicants must follow today.
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