Function and purpose

By definition, Secret files contain information that has considerable sensitivity for the government of the day.  The files in this consignment, recorded by the Department of Immigration in its many and various forms over a period of fifty years from 1930 to 1980, relate directly to this central and significant aspect of Australian history.  These files record the department’s handling of sensitive immigration, visitor and citizenship issues in this time.  A large number of these files are effectively security assessments. They include details of the regular vetting of applicants for immigration, temporary entry and citizenship by ASIO, the Commonwealth Police, and (although to a much lesser extent) other security agencies.  A number are concerned with the granting of passports to individuals considered either security risks or criminals.  In the 1950s, the Department had the power to cancel the passports of citizens they considered to be communists.  Some of these people were and remain, well known Australians.  These files also document Australia’s policies towards refugees in this period.

These files record the huge range of differing individuals who entered Australia in the post war period, and include some records relating to displaced persons.  A few files relate to suspected Nazi war criminals.  A number of files relate to White Russians emigrating from China.  Numbers of files relate to the entry of priests to support Orthodox Communities in Australia and the subsequent splits in these communities.  Many priests came from countries that, at the time, were under communist rule, which created tensions within the communities they had come to serve.  The files record details relating to all aspects of Asian immigration in this period and the administration of the regulations governing the right of Chinese migrants to remain in Australia.  There are considerable numbers of files relating to Croatian nationalists; other divisions within the Yugoslavian community; Mafia activities within Australia; the activities of Ananda Marga; and many other smaller lesser-known migrant groups.  The series contains copies of newspapers and magazines produced by the Macedonian, Greek, and Croatian community in the 1950s. 

Many, if not the majority, of these files contain advice to the minister on all aspects of his responsibilities during this period.  They provide a direct insight into Australian racial attitudes for all types of individuals across the world and include information relating to the Australian Government’s post war sensitivities to the use of the term White Australia Policy.  They also represent the nature of Australian Government political attitudes at the time, particularly towards communism, as a political movement both here and overseas.  They also indicate the nature of Australian attitudes towards individuals from nations such as Chile, South Africa, and Greece during the time of the military junta.  These files contain an application for migrant entry from Joel Joffe, Nelson Mandela’s defense lawyer at his treason trial.  The application was rejected; the reasons are on file in detail.  There are a few later files relating to members of the then East Timorese government in exile.

Many of these files are case files, accessible only under the name of the applicant.  Others are policy files where the title is a reasonable guide to the contents.  Some files contain extraordinary human stories.  They are a resource providing primary source material on a subject of great significance to Australia as a nation and touching on many aspects of Australian life.  They also provide considerable insight into the operations of ASIO and its effects within Australian society with the time period.

It was the original intention that this series be part of CRS A446 (Correspondence files, annual single number series, with block allocations) with separate block allocations within that series. However this intention was not carried through. The files were not allotted the year prefix therefore becoming a separate series. The block allocations are 200,001 - 250,000 for secret personal files and 250,001 onwards for secret policy files. The files have an 'S' (Secret) prefix.

System of arrangement and control

 Single number with S [Secret] prefix

Finding aids

Series history

National Archives staff reviewed this series in 2002. Some records transferred into the National Archives of Australia’s custody were assessed as no longer justifying retention in the collection. These records were disposed of in accordance with records disposal authorities approved by the National Archives of Australia and by the Commonwealth agency responsible for the functions to which the records related.