Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1975–1987)

The Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs was an Australian government department that existed between December 1975 and July 1987.

History The department was announced in December 1975, resulting from the abolition of the previous Department of Labor and Immigration. The creation of the department was an election commitment that Malcolm Fraser said indicated the importance placed by the Fraser government on Australia's immigration program and the Coalition's concern that issues affecting migrants and their families should receive close and sympathetic attention.

Scope Information about the department's functions and government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the department's annual reports.

According to the Administrative Arrangements Order made on 22 December 1975 (reproduced by the National Archives), the department dealt with: Migration Naturalization and aliens

Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs The department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.

During the department's existence, the following people were appointed as Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.

Minister Party Prime Minister Term Michael MacKellar Liberal Malcolm Fraser 20 December 1975–8 December 1979 Ian Macphee 08 Dec 1979–07 May 1982 Peter Durack 7 June 1981–7 July 1981John Hodges 7 May 1982–11 March 1983 Stewart West Labor Bob Hawke 11 March 1983–13 December 1984 Chris Hurford 13 December 1984–16 February 1987 Mick Young 16 February 1987–24 July 1987

References