Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
DIMA
11 March 1996 – 26 November 2001
Previously Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1993–1996). Renamed Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs in 2001.
Department of State responsible for the migration and humanitarian programs, entry and compliance, detention of unlawful non-citizens, citizenship, settlement services and multicultural affairs.
Names over time
- Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs1975–1987
- Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs1987–1993
- Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs1993–1996
- Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs1996–2001
- Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs2001–2006
- Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs2006–2007
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship2007–2013
- Department of Immigration and Border Protection2013–2017
- Department of Home Affairs2017–present
How it came into existence
Created by the Administrative Arrangements Order of 11 March 1996 by renaming the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. It absorbed the Office of Multicultural Affairs from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and, later in 1996, the residual work of the abolished Bureau of Immigration, Multicultural and Population Research. Philip Ruddock was Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.
- Immigration
- Citizenship
- Settlement services
- Ethnic affairs
Changes during its life
- Multicultural affairs policy and coordination
The Office of Multicultural Affairs had been part of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- Immigration, multicultural and population research
How it ended
On 26 November 2001 it became the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, which took on responsibility for Indigenous affairs policy.
- Immigration
- Multicultural affairs
- Citizenship
- Settlement services
Main functions
- Migration program and visas
- Refugee and humanitarian program
- Entry, compliance and immigration detention
- Citizenship
- Settlement services and the Adult Migrant English Program
- Multicultural affairs
- Translating and interpreting services
Bodies in this portfolio (3)
- Immigration Review Tribunal 1989–1999
- Migration Internal Review Office 1989–1999
- Bureau of Immigration, Multicultural and Population Research 1994–1996
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 11 March 1996 (created it)
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 26 November 2001 (took effect as it ended)