Department of Immigration and Citizenship - History

History

After World War II, Australia launched a massive immigration program. The then Minister for Immigration, Arthur Calwell promoted mass immigration with the slogan "populate or perish" and established the Department of Immigration in 1945.

Since 1945, the department's functions and responsibilities have changed several times.

  • DI - Department of Immigration (1945 – 1974)
  • DLI - Department of Labor and Immigration (1974 – 1975)
  • DIEA - Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1976 – 1987)
  • DILGEA - Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1987 – 1993)
  • DIEA - Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1993 – 1996)
  • DIMA - Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (1996 – 2001)
  • DIMIA - Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2001 – 2006)
  • DIMA - Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2006 – 2007)

DIAC and its successors are occasionally the centre of controversy in regards to the Australian Government's policies of mandatory detention of unauthorised arrivals, the Pacific Solution, and the treatment of asylum seekers that was criticised in the Palmer and Comrie reports in 2005.

The Rudd Labor government announced the end of mandatory detention in Australia in July 2008, unless the asylum seeker was deemed to pose a risk to the wider community, such as those who have repeatedly breached their visa conditions or those who have security or health risks.

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