Department of Immigration
13 July 1945 – 12 June 1974
Department of State that ran Australia's large post-war immigration program, including assisted passages, the resettlement of displaced persons and refugees, migrant reception and settlement, and naturalisation and citizenship.
How it came into existence
Created on 13 July 1945 by the Administrative Arrangements Order for the Chifley ministry, with Arthur Calwell as the first Minister for Immigration. It took immigration, passports, naturalisation and aliens registration from the Department of the Interior.
- Immigration
- Passports
- Naturalisation and aliens registration
How it ended
Abolished on 12 June 1974 by the second Whitlam ministry: its immigration functions were combined with the Department of Labour in the new Department of Labor and Immigration (minister Clyde Cameron), and visa functions went to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
- Visa functions
Wikipedia's article on the Department of Immigration lists the Department of Foreign Affairs as its successor for visa functions; whether passports moved at the same time is not confirmed.
- Immigration
- Migrant settlement
- Citizenship
Main functions
- Immigration policy and migrant selection
- Assisted passage schemes and the post-war migration program
- Resettlement of displaced persons and refugees
- Migrant reception centres and hostels, such as Bonegilla
- Naturalisation and Australian citizenship (from 1949)
- Passports
- Aliens registration and deportation
- Migrant settlement and integration
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 16 November 1950 (sets it out)
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 19 December 1972 (sets it out)
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.