War Precautions (Aliens Registration) Regulations 1916 (Amendment)

Legislation au C1916L00281 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES

1916. No. 281.

__________

REGULATIONS UNDER THE WAR PRECAUTIONS ACT 1914–1916.

War Precautions (Aliens Registration) Regulations 1916.

(Statutory Rule No. 165 of 1916, as amended by Statutory Rules Nos. 176 and 232 of 1916.)

Schedule Forms A and B—New Forms.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation under the War Precautions Act 1914–1916 to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this ninth day of November, 1916.

R. M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

J. A. JENSEN,

for Minister of State for Defence.

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War Precautions (Aliens Registration) Regulations 1916.

The Schedule to the Regulations is amended by cancelling Forms A and B (Statutory Rule No. 176 of 1916) and substituting the following:—

Form A.

The War Precautions (Aliens Registration) Regulations 1916.

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION.

This form is to be filled up in duplicate, and the Alien is to attend in person, with the duplicate forms, before the member of the Police Force in charge of the Police Station nearest to his usual place of abode.

Name (in full)

Nationality Sex

Birthplace Date of birth

Place of residence*

Place of business (if any)

Occupation

Date of entry to Commonwealth

__________________________________________________________________________________

* If a member of a ship’s crew, state here name of ship, port at which voyage commenced. and port to which bound.

 

 

 

C.14780.—Price 3d.


Personal Description.

Height Colour of eyes

Colour of hair Notable marks

Remarks—

Left thumb print if unable to write (impression to be made in presence of Aliens Registration Officer).

Date of application

Signature of Alien

 

(This Space for Office Use only.)

                     Certificate No. Issued on

                     Remarks—

       Signature of Aliens

Registration Officer

Police Station

_________

Form B.

No. ] (Not to be used for alien seaman entering Commonwealth on oversea vessel.)

Commonwealth of Australia.

Department of Defence.

The War Precautions (Aliens Registration) Regulations 1916.

CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF ALIEN.

Name of holder

Nationality Date of birth

Place of abode

Signature of holder

Left thumb print (required if alien cannot write).

Personal Description.

Height Colour of eyes

Colour of hair Notable marks

Remarks—

Date of issue

Signature of Aliens

Registration Officer

Police Station

Notice to Aliens.

Change of Abode.—Aliens who change their place of abode are required within seven days afterwards to obtain two copies of Form C from the police station nearest to their new place of abode, to fill them up and to attend in person with them and with their original Certificate of Registration before the Aliens Registration Officer at that station. This requirement does not extend to aliens who travel in the Commonwealth (either on land or in a vessel between Commonwealth ports) without changing their usual place of residence.

Registration at Hotels, &c.—Aliens staying at hotels, boarding-houses, or lodging-houses are required to give to the keepers of such premises any information required for their registration at such premises.

Alien Enemies.—Alien enemies are also subject to the requirements as to registration &c., of the Aliens Restriction Order 1915.

[On back.]

Registered changes of abode

New address

Registered at Date

Signature of A.R.O.


Form B.

No. ] (For alien seaman entering Commonwealth on oversea vessel.)

Commonwealth of Australia.

Department of Defence.

The War Precautions (Aliens Registration) Regulations 1916.

CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF ALIEN SEAMAN.

Name of holder

Nationality Date of birth

Place of abode (Home address)

Signature of holder

Left thumb print (required if alien cannot write).

Personal Description.

Height Colour of eyes

Colour of hair Notable marks

Remarks—

Date of issue

Signature of Aliens

Registration Officer

Police Station

Notice to Alien Seamen.

An alien seaman serving on an oversea vessel is permitted to land, on arrival of his vessel at the first port of call in Australia, for the purpose of registering with the nearest Aliens Registration Officer.

He is not allowed to land again unless he has on his person his Certificate of Registration.

He is not required to report to the Aliens Registration Officer at subsequent ports of call on the same voyage; but if he visits Australia on a later voyage he is required to report at the first port of call.

[On back.]

Date Landed or Registered.

Port.

Name of Vessel.

 

 

 

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Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullet, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

Overview

The War Precautions (Aliens Registration) Regulations 1916 were enacted under the War Precautions Act 1914–1916 to address the need for the registration and identification of aliens during the First World War. These regulations were made by the Governor-General in Council, reflecting the urgency and national security concerns of the time. The overarching policy objective was to ensure that aliens, including those from enemy nations, were properly registered and monitored to mitigate any potential threats posed by them during the war. The regulations required aliens to register their personal details and obtain a certificate of registration, with specific provisions for those who changed their place of abode, stayed in hotels or boarding-houses, or were seafaring aliens arriving in Australia.

Scope and Application

The War Precautions (Aliens Registration) Regulations 1916 apply to all aliens within the Commonwealth of Australia, encompassing their registration, identification, and reporting requirements. These regulations mandate the registration of aliens, including those who are alien enemies, upon their entry into the Commonwealth. They require aliens to provide detailed personal information such as nationality, date of birth, place of residence, and physical descriptions, which are to be recorded on designated forms. The regulations also specify that aliens must update their registration details within seven days of changing their place of residence. Notably, aliens on vessels entering the Commonwealth are permitted to register at the first port of call, with subsequent requirements dependent on their continued presence in Australia. The regulations are enforced across the entire Commonwealth, ensuring uniform compliance with these registration requirements. The scope of these regulations is extended through subordinate instruments that may further define or refine the registration process.

Key Provisions

The War Precautions (Aliens Registration) Regulations 1916 outline the procedures for the registration of aliens within Australia during wartime. Section 1 of the regulations sets out the requirement for aliens to register with the local police station using Form A, which includes personal details such as name, nationality, place of residence, and occupation. The alien must present this form in duplicate, along with a left thumbprint if they are unable to write, and attend in person (Section 2). Aliens who change their place of abode within Australia must update their registration within seven days using Form C, which is also to be submitted to the police station nearest to their new residence (Section 3). Aliens staying at hotels, boarding-houses, or lodging-houses must provide necessary information for their registration at these premises (Section 4). These regulations impose several obligations on aliens. Firstly, aliens must register upon entry into the Commonwealth, and update their registration if they change their place of residence (Sections 2 and 3). Secondly, aliens staying at transient accommodations must provide information for registration at those locations (Section 4). Alien seamen are permitted to land for registration at the first port of call but must not land again without their Certificate of Registration (Section 5). Alien enemies are subject to additional requirements as outlined in the Aliens Restriction Order 1915 (Section 6). Breach of these regulations can result in legal consequences. Aliens who fail to register or update their registration as required may be subject to penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, it is clear that non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions under the War Precautions Act 1914–1916. The seriousness of the penalties would depend on the nature and extent of the breach, but could include fines or other sanctions prescribed by the Act. Alien seamen who land without proper registration could also face legal repercussions, particularly if they re-enter Australia without the necessary documentation.

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Area of Law
Immigration & Refugee Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Licensing & Registration
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

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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.