[lg policy] Fact Sheet 8 =?windows-1252?Q?=96_?=Abolition of the 'White Australia' Policy

Sat Aug 4 14:17:03 UTC 2012

Fact Sheet 8 – Abolition of the 'White Australia' Policy

On this page

    The history
    Second World War
    The next major step
    A watershed
    Continuing the trend
    The present

The 'White Australia' policy describes Australia's approach to
immigration from federation until the latter part of the 20th century,
which favoured applicants from certain countries. The abolition of the
policy took place over a period of 25 years.
Following the election of a coalition of the Liberal and Country
parties in 1949, Immigration Minister Harold Holt allowed 800
non-European refugees to remain in Australia and Japanese war brides
to enter Australia.

Over subsequent years Australian governments gradually dismantled the
policy with the final vestiges being removed in 1973 by the new Labor
government.
The history

The origins of the 'White Australia' policy can be traced to the
1850s. White miners' resentment towards industrious Chinese diggers
culminated in violence on the Buckland River in Victoria, and at
Lambing Flat (now Young) in New South Wales. The governments of these
two colonies introduced restrictions on Chinese immigration.

Later, it was the turn of hard-working indentured labourers from the
South Sea Islands of the Pacific (known as 'Kanakas') in northern
Queensland. Factory workers in the south became vehemently opposed to
all forms of immigration which might threaten their jobs; particularly
by non-white people who they thought would accept a lower standard of
living and work for lower wages.

Some influential Queenslanders felt that the colony would be excluded
from the forthcoming Federation if the 'Kanaka' trade did not cease.
Leading NSW and Victorian politicians warned there would be no place
for 'Asiatics' or 'coloureds' in the Australia of the future.

In 1901, the new federal government passed an Act ending the
employment of Pacific Islanders. The Immigration Restriction Act 1901
received royal assent on 23 December 1901. It was described as an Act
'to place certain restrictions on immigration and to provide for the
removal from the Commonwealth of prohibited immigrants'.

The Act prohibited from immigration those considered to be insane,
anyone likely to become a charge upon the public or upon any public or
charitable institution. It also included any person suffering from an
infectious or contagious disease 'of a loathsome or dangerous
character'.

The Act also prohibited prostitutes, criminals and anyone under a
contract or agreement to perform manual labour within Australia (with
some limited exceptions).

Other restrictions included a dictation test which was used to exclude
certain applicants by requiring them to pass a written test. Often
tests were conducted in a language the applicant was not familiar with
and had been nominated by an immigration officer.

With these severe measures the implementation of the 'White Australia'
policy was warmly applauded in most sections of the community.

In 1919 the Prime Minister, William Morris Hughes, hailed it as 'the
greatest thing we have achieved'.
Second World War

After the outbreak of hostilities with Japan, Prime Minister John
Curtin reinforced the philosophy of the 'White Australia' policy,
saying 'This country shall remain forever the home of the descendants
of those people who came here in peace in order to establish in the
South Seas an outpost of the British race'.

During World War II, many non-white refugees entered Australia. Most
left voluntarily at the end of the war, but many had married
Australians and wanted to stay. Arthur Calwell, the first immigration
minister, sought to deport them, arousing much protest.

Minister Holt's decision in 1949 to allow 800 non-European refugees to
stay, and Japanese war brides to be admitted, was the first step
towards a non-discriminatory immigration policy.
The next major step

The next major step was in 1957 when non-Europeans with 15 years
residence in Australia were allowed to become Australian citizens.

The revised Migration Act 1958 introduced a simpler system of entry
permits and abolished the controversial dictation test.

The revised Act avoided references to questions of race. Indeed, it
was in this context that the Minister for Immigration, Sir Alexander
Downer, stated that 'distinguished and highly qualified Asians' might
immigrate.

After a review of the non-European policy in March 1966, Immigration
Minister Hubert Opperman announced applications for migration would be
accepted from well-qualified people on the basis of their suitability
as settlers, their ability to integrate readily and their possession
of qualifications positively useful to Australia.

At the same time, the government decided a number of 'temporary
resident' non-Europeans, who were not required to leave Australia,
could become permanent residents and citizens after five years (the
same as for Europeans).

The government also eased restrictions on immigration of
non-Europeans. The criterion of 'distinguished and highly qualified'
was replaced by the criterion of 'well qualified' non-Europeans, and
the number of non-Europeans allowed to immigrate would be 'somewhat
greater than previously'.
A watershed

The March 1966 announcement was the watershed in abolishing the 'White
Australia' policy, and non-European migration began to increase.
Yearly non-European settler arrivals rose from 746 in 1966 to 2,696 in
1971, while yearly part-European settler arrivals rose from 1498 to
6054.

In 1973 the Whitlam Labor government took three further steps in the
gradual process to remove race as a factor in Australia's immigration
policies.

These were to:

    legislate that all migrants, of whatever origin, be eligible to
obtain citizenship after three years of permanent residence
    issue policy instructions to overseas posts to totally disregard
race as a factor in the selection of migrants
    ratify all international agreements relating to immigration and race.

Because the Whitlam government reduced the overall immigration intake
the reform steps that it took had very little impact on the number of
migrants from non-European countries.

An increase in the number and percentage of migrants from non-European
countries did not take place until after the Fraser government came
into office in 1975.
Continuing the trend

In 1978 the government commissioned a comprehensive review of
immigration in Australia. Far-reaching new policies and programs were
adopted as a framework for Australia's population development.

They included three-year rolling programs to replace the annual
immigration targets of the past, a renewed commitment to apply
immigration policy without racial discrimination, a more consistent
and structured approach to migrant selection and an emphasis on
attracting people who would represent a positive gain to Australia.
The present

Australia's current Migration Program allows people from any country
to apply to migrate to Australia, regardless of their ethnicity,
culture, religion or language, provided that they meet the criteria
set out in law.
See: Fact Sheet 20 – Migration Program Planning Levels

At March 2010 the estimated population for Australia was 22.27 million
people. At 30 June 2009 around one quarter of the estimated resident
population comprised of people born overseas. At the 2006 Census 45
per cent of Australian residents were either born overseas or have at
least one parent born overseas.

Australians identify with some 250 ancestries and practise a range of
religions. In addition to Indigenous languages, around 200 other
languages are spoken in Australia. After English, the most common
languages spoken are Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic and Mandarin.

The government views Australia's cultural diversity as a source of
both social and economic wealth.

Further information is available on the department's website.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national general enquiries line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. Recorded
information is available outside these hours.

Fact Sheet 8. Produced by the National Communications Branch,
Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Last reviewed November 2010.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.

http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/08abolition.htm

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