Commonwealth act

Aliens Act Repeal Act 1984

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Act Number

119 of 1984

Collection

act

Plain English Summary

2/10 complexity

This act abolishes the Aliens Act 1947 and related amendment laws that regulated non-citizens in Australia.

Key points:

Wipes the old law off the books: The Aliens Act 1947 and its updates from 1952, 1959, 1965, 1966, and 1973 are completely repealed.
Protects people from past prosecutions: Anyone who broke the old Aliens Act rules before this repeal takes effect cannot be prosecuted or fined after the repeal happens. This ensures people aren't punished under laws that no longer exist.
Takes effect immediately: The act starts working as soon as it receives Royal Assent (formal approval).

This reflects Australia's shift away from using the term 'aliens' and the legal framework established in the post-war period, moving toward modern citizenship and migration laws.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in Aliens Act Repeal Act 1984.

Aliens Act Repeal Act 1984

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Aliens Act Repeal Act 1984

No. 119 of 1984

An Act to repeal the Aliens Act 1947 and for related purposes

[Assented to 18 October 1984]

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

Short title, &c.

1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Aliens Act Repeal Act 1984.

(2) The Aliens Act 19471 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

Commencement

This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Repeal of certain Acts

3. The Acts set out in the Schedule are repealed.

Persons not to be prosecuted after repeal

4. Where a person, before the commencement of this Act—

(a) has committed an offence against the Principal Act; or

(b) is liable, under section 18 of that Act, to pay a pecuniary penalty,

that person shall not, after the commencement of this Act—

(d) be required to pay that pecuniary penalty,

as the case requires.

–––––––––––––

SCHEDULE Section 3

ACTS REPEALED

Aliens Act 1947

Aliens Act 1952

Aliens Act 1959

Aliens Act 1965

Aliens Act 1966

Aliens Act 1973

NOTE

1. No. 22, 1947, as amended. For previous amendments, see No. 68, 1952; No. 32, 1959; No. 12, 1965; No. 9, 1966; No. 132, 1973; No. 216, 1973; and No. 91, 1976.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 Aliens Act Repeal Act 1984

Aliens Act Repeal Act 1984

No. 119 of 1984

An Act to repeal the Aliens Act 1947 and for related purposes

[Assented to 18 October 1984]

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

Short title, &c.

1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Aliens Act Repeal Act 1984.

(2) The Aliens Act 19471 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

Commencement

This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Repeal of certain Acts

3. The Acts set out in the Schedule are repealed.

Persons not to be prosecuted after repeal

4. Where a person, before the commencement of this Act—

(a) has committed an offence against the Principal Act; or

(b) is liable, under section 18 of that Act, to pay a pecuniary penalty,

that person shall not, after the commencement of this Act—

(d) be required to pay that pecuniary penalty,

as the case requires.

–––––––––––––

SCHEDULE Section 3

ACTS REPEALED

Aliens Act 1947

Aliens Act 1952

Aliens Act 1959

Aliens Act 1965

Aliens Act 1966

Aliens Act 1973

NOTE

1. No. 22, 1947, as amended. For previous amendments, see No. 68, 1952; No. 32, 1959; No. 12, 1965; No. 9, 1966; No. 132, 1973; No. 216, 1973; and No. 91, 1976.