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White Australia Policy
The 1901 Immigration Restriction Act was aimed at excuding non-white migrants and did so by requiring migrants to pass a dictation test which could be set in any language chosen by a customs officer. In 1901, 98% of people living in Australia were of European background, with "white" skin, and with British laws and customs.The government wanted to keep Australia this way. This had an influence on the type of people living in Australia. -
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History:Migration to Australia
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Post Second World War Migration
WWII resulted in a sense Australia needed to increase its popualtion in order to be able to suitibly defend the country- the idea of "populate or perish". Skill shortages were also a key issue during this time of migration, and attracting skilled workers was an important migration goal. British settlers in particualr were given special encouragements and privileges to migrate,[ the ten pound poms ] -
7,500,000 to 20,000,000
Immigration Minister Aurthur Calwell announced an ambitios program to take australias population from just over seven and a half million to twenty million people. Right from the start the government wanted seventy thousand migrants a year and if they could all come from Britain, well that was just fine. -
Vietnam War
There was a large influx of immigrants from South East Asia during the 1970s [ some arriving as "boat people "], a response to the upheavels and unrest taking place in countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos at this time. The arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in South Vietnam during July and August 1962 was the beginning of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. -
Abolition of the white austrlia policy
By 1965, both major political parties had removed 'White Australia' from their political platforms. Prime minister Harold Holt became convinced that Australia's immigration policy could no longer be based on the racial exclusion of non-European people. One of the first changes Holt made upon becoming prime minister was to allow a number of non-European 'temporary residents' to become permanent residents and Australian citizens.
