National Security (Passport) Regulations

Legislation au C1939L00089 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

STATUTORY RULES.

1939. No. 89.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT 1939.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the National Security Act 1939.

Dated this Thirteenth day of September, 1939.

(SGD.) GOWRIE.

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Minister of State for Defence.

 

National Security (Passport) Regulations.

Citation.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the National Security (Passport) Regulations.

Definitions.

2. In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

“Australian passport” means a passport issued under the Passports Act 1938;

“authorized military authority” means, in relation to any power, act, duty or matter, a military authority thereto authorized by or on behalf of the Minister;

“officer” has the same meaning as in the Passports Act 1938;

“passport” includes a document of identity issued from official sources, whether within or outside Australia, and having the characteristics of a passport.

Person entering or leaving the Commonwealth to have passports bearing proper visé.

3.—(1.) Subject to these Regulations, a person who is, or appears to an officer to be, over the age of sixteen years, shall not, on coming by sea or air from a place outside Australia, land at any place in Australia or in any Territory of the Commonwealth unless he is in possession of a passport viséd or issued—

(a) if he comes from any part of His Majesty’s dominions, by a proper authority in that part; or

(b) if he comes from a foreign country, by a British Ambassador or Consul.

(2.) Subject to these Regulations, a person who is, or appears to an officer to be, over the age of sixteen years, shall not, for the purpose of proceeding by sea or air to a destination outside Australia, embark in Australia or in any Territory of the Commonwealth unless—

(a) he is the holder of an Australian passport; or

(b) his passport has been viséd or endorsed for that journey.

Passport, &c., valid for specified journey only.

4. A passport, visé or endorsement shall be valid only for the journey specified therein.

 

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on, 1939.

5085.—12/11.9.1939.—Price 3d.


Passport, &c., not to be issued without prior approval.

5. A passport, visé or endorsement shall not be issued or made unless the prior approval of the Minister or of an authorized military authority has been obtained.

Power to detain passports.

6.—(1.) Any person, on coming by sea or air from a place outside Australia, shall, if required, give up his passport to an officer at any port of call or aerodrome.

(2.) A passport which is given up in accordance with this regulation may be detained by any person thereto authorized by or on behalf of the Minister of State for the Interior.

Passports, &c., may be cancelled.

7. Any passport, visé or endorsement may be cancelled by the Minister or an authorized military authority.

Lodgment of passports for visé or endorsement.

8. A passport, which by virtue of these Regulations is required to be viséd or endorsed, shall be lodged with the Secretary, Department of the Interior, Canberra, or with the Immigration and Passports Officer, Department of the Interior, Melbourne, or, at any other place, with a collector of Customs or other principal officer of Customs doing duty at the time and place—

(a) in the case of an alien, not less than fourteen days before the date of his intended embarkation; or

(b) in the case of a British subject, not less than seven days before the date of his intended embarkation.

Exemptions.

9. The Minister or an authorized military authority may exempt any person or class of persons from all or any of these Regulations.

Persons to whom these Regulations do not apply.

10. These Regulations shall not apply to—

(a) a member of any Naval, Military or Air Forces of the King or of the Commonwealth who is in possession of an official authorization of his movement;

(b) a person in the service of the Commonwealth or of a State who is travelling on official duty to or from the Dominion of New Zealand or any Territory of the Commonwealth;

(c) a person entering or leaving the Commonwealth in custody of the law;

(d) a person ordered by the Government of the Commonwealth or of any State or Territory of the Commonwealth to leave the Commonwealth, provided he is in possession of documentary evidence to that effect; or

(e) a member of the crew of an overseas vessel or aircraft who lands as a result of wreck or sickness.

Evasion, obstruction and interference.

11. A person shall not—

(a) evade, or assist any other person to evade, any provision of these Regulations or of any order, rule or by-law made under these Regulations by making false statements or otherwise; or

(b) obstruct or interfere with any person acting in the course of his duty under these Regulations or any order, rule or by-law made under these Regulations.


Onus of proof.

12. In any proceedings for any contravention or failure to comply with any provision of these Regulations, or of any order, rule or by-law made under these Regulations, the burden of proving an exemption shall lie upon the person charged.

Evidence of signature, &c., of officers.

13. All Courts shall take judicial notice of—

(a) the signature of any person who is or has been an officer acting under or in pursuance of these Regulations; and

(b) the fact that such a person is or has been such an officer,

if the signature purports to be attached or appended to any document produced in evidence.

Orders, rules, and by-laws.

14. The Minister may make such orders, rules and by-laws as, in his opinion, are necessary or convenient for carrying out or giving effect to these Regulations.

 

By Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

The National Security (Passport) Regulations were enacted in 1939 under the National Security Act 1939, made by the Governor-General in Council. These regulations were introduced to address the need for tighter control over passports and travel documentation during a period of heightened international tension and the impending threat of war. The regulations were designed to ensure that only properly vetted individuals could enter or leave Australia, thereby enhancing national security. The policy objective was to safeguard the nation by controlling the movement of people across its borders through stringent passport regulations, including requirements for passports to be endorsed or viséd by appropriate authorities and provisions for the detention and cancellation of passports. These measures aimed to prevent unauthorised entry and exit, particularly by individuals deemed to pose a security risk.

Scope and Application

The National Security (Passport) Regulations, made under the National Security Act 1939, apply to individuals over the age of sixteen entering or leaving Australia or any Commonwealth territory by sea or air. These Regulations mandate that individuals must possess a passport that has been properly viséd or endorsed by appropriate authorities, depending on whether they are arriving from a part of His Majesty’s dominions or a foreign country. Exemptions apply to certain categories of individuals, such as members of the military in possession of official travel authorisations, those travelling on official duty to or from New Zealand or other Commonwealth territories, individuals in the custody of the law, those ordered by government to leave the Commonwealth, and crew members of overseas vessels or aircraft who land due to wreck or sickness. Furthermore, the Regulations allow for the detention of passports, the cancellation of passports or endorsements, and the exemption of individuals or classes of individuals from these Regulations by the Minister or an authorized military authority. The burden of proof lies with the accused to demonstrate an exemption in any proceedings for contravention of the Regulations. The Regulations also provide for the issuance of orders, rules, and by-laws by the Minister to implement the provisions of these Regulations.

Key Provisions

The National Security (Passport) Regulations 1939 (Regulations) establish specific requirements for individuals entering or leaving Australia by sea or air. Under section 3, any person over the age of sixteen entering Australia must possess a passport that has been properly viséd or issued by an appropriate authority. This requirement applies whether the person is arriving from within His Majesty's dominions or from a foreign country. Similarly, section 3(2) mandates that individuals leaving Australia must either hold an Australian passport or have their passport viséd or endorsed for the intended journey. Section 4 further clarifies that passports, visés, or endorsements are only valid for the specific journey outlined in the document. The Regulations impose several obligations on individuals and authorities. Section 5 stipulates that passports, visés, or endorsements cannot be issued without the prior approval of the Minister or an authorized military authority. Section 6 requires individuals arriving by sea or air from outside Australia to surrender their passports to an officer, which may then be detained by authorized personnel. Section 7 allows for the cancellation of passports, visés, or endorsements by the Minister or an authorized military authority. Additionally, section 8 outlines the process for lodging passports for visé or endorsement, with different deadlines for aliens and British subjects. The Regulations also include provisions for potential breaches and the consequences thereof. Section 11 prohibits individuals from evading the Regulations, obstructing officers, or interfering with their duties. Penalties for such actions are not explicitly stated in the Regulations but would likely fall under the broader provisions of the National Security Act 1939 or related legislation. Section 12 places the burden of proof on the accused in any proceedings related to contraventions of the Regulations. Furthermore, section 13 ensures that the signatures of officers and their status are taken as judicially noticed in court proceedings if the signature appears on a document produced in evidence.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.