Controlling the ‘alien’ in mid-twentieth century Australia: the origins and fate of a policing role

‘It sounds like they shouldn't be here’: immigration checks on the streets of Sydney

“…As Goldsmith (2005, p. 452) notes: 'in colonial societies, there historically was less effort given to justifying police policies and actions in terms of broad public support'. From the time of federation in 1901, and in the absence of national law enforcement agencies, state police remained the only resource available to enforce the new federal mandate to control immigration (Finnane 2009). Despite the subsequent establishment of both a national police authority and a specialist immigration authority, state police maintained an ongoing involvement in the control of 'aliens' Á a term which has now given way to the legal category of 'unlawful non citizens'.…”

“…4, December 2011, 456Á467 This is nowhere more apparent than in NSW, in which the first Australian penal colony was established at Sydney Cove in 1788. One legacy of this foundational role for state police has been a capacity to garner significant resources and powers (Brown et al 2006, Finnane 2009), coupled with a relative lack of democratic accountability. As Goldsmith (2005, p. 452) notes: 'in colonial societies, there historically was less effort given to justifying police policies and actions in terms of broad public support'.…”

A Demography and Taxonomy of Long-term Immigration Detention in Australia

“…This has been achieved not only by the ascription of criminality but also by emphasis on the importance of protecting national borders and defending national security. In Australia this emphasis on an implicit threat exploits a history of popular fears associated with various racial and cultural groups that, over the years, have provided various justifications for a range of exclusionary practices (Finnane 2009). Such fears are intensified by the discourse of criminalisation, in which those lacking documents are portrayed not only as unwelcome but also as dangerous.…”

British Migrants, Criminality and Deportation: Shaping the Australian Post-war Approach

“…These agencies protested relinquishing their powers to the immigration department, arguing there were security risks in doing so and advocating comprehensive fingerprinting programmes for incoming 'aliens'. 19 The 1957 ministerial and bureaucratic angst provoked by publicity over migrant crime can be best understood against the background of a screening program which was concerned to stop the entry of potential burdens on society (those too unhealthy or too old) or politically suspect, especially, but not only, communist. These concerns were evident in the earlier development of policy on vetting of British migrants.…”

“…There was also a benign element to this liaison between police and immigration authorities in the need for consular staff to be advised of the arrest of people who were still their citizens. 33 The establishment of the Dovey committee late in 1951 accelerated this tracking program. Inquiries conducted by the committee and the immigration department clarified the inconsistencies between police and immigration offices in the various States.…”