Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs Historical Departmental Records Files A range of files were maintained containing the migration application, sponsorship or application to remain permanently in Australia. Citizenship applications were also retained on individual files. Historic files are retained by Australian Archives. Passenger Movement Records Passenger records for the period prior to 1965 are those contained within ship & airline passenger manifests lists. Some of these are retained by Australian Archives Nominal rolls of assisted passage migrants arriving in this period were maintained by the Department but transferred to Australian Archives for storage. On 1 January 1965 a system of Passenger Cards was introduced such that every person entering or departing from Australia was required to complete an incoming or outgoing passenger card. These were retained and stored in Canberra. Extracts of the information on these passenger cards was recorded on microfiche commencing in 1973 unti11989. Subsequently passenger movements were computerised and today are recorded directly at the point of departure or arrival. Aliens Registration The Aliens Act was abolished in the mid 1970'5. It referred to all migrants who were not British Subjects. The Act required that all Aliens 16 years of age or over were required to "register" prior to migration or upon becoming 16 years of age after arrival. They were also obliged under the Act to notify the Department if they changed their marital status or changed their address. There was also a requirement to notify the Department of their address in September of each year. Obligations under the Act ceased upon the acquisition of Australian Citizenship. The registration documents which included details of their parents and arrival details as well as the historic record of their notified addresses were retained in the latest State of residence and transferred between States if the person shifted interstate. These documents were microfilmed in the 70's for future reference following the abolition of the Act. Citizenship The requirements that need to be met for a person to become an Australian Citizen have varied over time. Since 1975 the requirements have been identical irrespective of a persons country of origin. . Aliens initially had to have 5 years residence in Australia before becoming eligible and had to attend an interview and an eventual "naturalisation" cerem.ony before becoming a Citizen. British subjects however could "register" as a Citizen after only 12 months residence in Australia, attend the interview but did not have to attend a ceremony as it was sent to them in the post. After 5 years residence the British Subject needed only to complete a "Notice of Desire to Become an Australian Citizen",. No interview or ceremony was required and the certificate was sent out in the post. The Australian Citizenship Index is currently retained in an electronic form but contains details that pre-date the commencement of the Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1948. This is due to the transfer of records of persons who became naturalised British Subjects in Australia prior to 1949 who became Australian Citizens on 26 Jan 1949 by operation of law upon the commencement of this Act. Citizenship application files are retained by Australian Archives. FOI & Privacy Persons have an entitlement to access their "own" information that the Department may hold. Generally information concerning another person will not be released without the person's consent. Fees may apply for the release of information except where the information is your "own" information. Principle 11 in the Privacy Act imposes limits on disclosure of personal information relating to a third party unless (a) the individual concerned is reasonably likely to have been aware, or made aware under Principle 2, that information of that kind is usually passed to that person, body or agency; (b)the individual concerned has consented to the disclosure; (c) the record-keeper believes on reasonable grounds that the disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of the individual concerned or of another person; (d)the disclosure is required or authorised by or under law; or (e) the disclosure is reasonably necessary for the enforcement of the criminal law or of a law imposing a pecuniary penalty, or for the protection of the public revenue. Archives Australian Archives retains Departmental documentation that is more than about 5 years old. Access to "recent" documentation is through the Department under the provisions of the FOI Act. Material over 30 years old is accessed through Australian Archives under the Archives Act. Information which pre-dates 1977 but is not yet 30 years of age is generally accessed through FOI. Passenger movements are accessed through FOI via DIMA as they are not held by Archives.