Australia’s tsunami system performs well

Last night’s tsunami warning for south-eastern Australia, may have come to nothing, but it did demonstrate the worth of the monitoring system, says one expert.

The warning was announced soon after an earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, occurred off the south coast of New Zealand’s South Island.

Chief Meteorologist Dr Chris Ryan, of the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre, says the epicentre was located in the closest earthquake source zone to Australia, a region known as the Puysegur seduction zone.

He says, despite being close to Australia, the region is far enough away that a tsunami would take more two hours to reach the coast.

Ryan says the tsunami that followed only warranted a ‘marine threat’ warning with waves rising 30 centimetres at Port Kembla, near Wollongong and no significant damage has been reported.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Seismologist David Jepsen, of Geoscience Australia, says it took two hours for waves from New Zealand to get to Tasmania.

He says the Puysegur seduction zone is a region where Australia’s tectonic plate pushes underneath the Pacific plate.

Although the Australian tsunami warning system is one of the best in the world, the system is still pretty new.

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Regulation of the Migration Advice Profession in Australia

Migration agents operating in Australia are required by law to be registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (Office of the MARA).

Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (Office of the MARA)

Prior to 1 July 2009, the MIA acted as the MARA under a Deed of Agreement between the MIA and the department. The 2007-08 Review of Statutory Self-Regulation of the Migration Advice Profession, which was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the regulatory scheme, recommended that the government consider establishing a regulatory body separate from the MIA.

In response to the review recommendation, the Minister announced the establishment of the Office of the MARA as a discrete office attached to the department and headed by a specifically designated senior officer solely responsible for Office of the MARA activities. The new body is located in Sydney and assumed functions from the MIA from 1 July 2009.

The Office of the MARA is supported by a representative advisory board, which includes a nominee from the MIA, a nominee from the Law Council of Australia, a consumer advocate and a community representative.

The Office of the MARA undertakes a range of functions including:

• processing registration and re-registration applications
• administering the profession’s entrance exam and continuing professional development program
• monitoring the conduct of registered migration agents
• investigating complaints about registered migration agents
• taking appropriate disciplinary action against registered migration agents who breach the migration agents Code of Conduct or otherwise behave in an unprofessional or unethical way.

See: Office of the MARA website

Source  :  http://www.immi.gov.au/gateways/agents/regulation-of-advice-profession.htm

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Sandalford buys up Killerby vineyard

SANDALFORD Wines is set to expand after an agreement to buy the Killerby vineyard on Caves Rd, Margaret River.

The vineyard is located on the boundary of Sandalford’s existing 400ha vineyard.

Sandalford Wines chief executive Grant Brinklow said the purchase provided Sandalford with a unique, long-term opportunity.

“First and foremost and coinciding with our vision of delivering ‘a fine wine experience’, our primary objective is for Sandalford to be a benchmark producer of premium and super premium wine from one of Australia’s – and fast becoming the world’s – leading wine-producing appellations, Margaret River,” he said.

“This acquisition will help achieve that objective by giving us access to some more well-established vines on arguably one of the best sites in the region.”

Mr Brinklow said the site would play host to large-scale concerts and events over the coming years.
“Negotiations are currently underway with our promoter partners to bring some truly world class performers to our Margaret River vineyard next season, the likes of which haven’t performed in the region previously,” he said.

Mr Brinklow said the venue would hold at least 12,000 people.

“We have aspirations of making our Margaret River vineyard the premier winery concert venue in the country.”
www.news.com.au

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