Is there a way to search through public records for free via the internet?

I'm trying to look up myself and my family, but I can't find any sites that allow me to view my 'public profile' for free with no membership, do you know of any sites that will allow for me to search these important files?

I come from Australia, so could you please keep it to site that search Australian birth records? Thank-you!Is there a way to search through public records for free via the internet?
If Australian law is anything like US law, you will not have a 鈥榩ublic profile鈥?for you or your family as no vital records for living individuals are included in any databases regardless of whether they are free sites or fee sites. It varies by state but birth and death certificates are unavailable to anyone except the person named on the record or the next of kin if the person is deceased for 50 to 100 years depending on where the record is located. Even then, you must purchase a copy of the certificate.



Some of the records that are available because the time restrictions have passed are just indexes, they are not the actual certificate.



Some Australian genealogy sites that you may find helpful but not for free birth and death certificates are

http://www.cyndislist.com/austnz.htm

http://www.nla.gov.au/oz/genelist.html

http://www.gomatilda.com/personal_issues鈥?/a>Is there a way to search through public records for free via the internet?
Read Australian Records laws, if like U.S. then birth, death, and sometimes marriage records are NOT public records. They are only available to the person, next of kin (as defined by law) or by court order and a fee has to be paid to get a copy. Some states make them available to anyone after 50 to 75 years have passed or sell the databases to fee genealogy sites. So again go the the vital records website in the Australian province you and family members born in and read their policy on availability.Is there a way to search through public records for free via the internet?
First of all, "public" does not mean "free".



Secondly, what is available to the public varies by state; what is available for free varies by state; what is available on the internet varies by state.



Thirdly, birth records / certificates of living people are NOT public records and are not free. They can ONLY be obtained by the person who is listed on the record and there is a fee to get it. No one else can get your birth certificate, and it is definitely NOT online.