The migration act 1966 was the first immigration law that made all potential migrants subject to the same rules and restrictions with. The aim of the policy was to reduce the population of nonwhite people in australia. The end of white australia and australia s changing perceptions of asia, 19451990 so strong that we are not sorry to think that we shall have passed away before that day arrives. This act may be cited as the immigration restriction act 1901. Discuss these together as a class making a list on the board as you go. Together with section 15 of the 1901 post and telegraph act see below, these formed a powerful set of legal instruments shaping immigration. No suggestion of a doubt about its wisdom or of the possibility of modifying it could safely be uttered by a political leader. The white australia immigration policy of last century was formally abolished when the whitlam government took power in 1972. Fiveyearold nancy prasad became a focus for campaigners trying to reverse the policy. Hirst suggests that the workers desire for a society of equals actually made them more racist. The minister means the minister for external affairs.
This document put in place the law that was the cornerstone of australia s white australia policy. It had been among the first pieces of legislation introduced to the newly formed federal. A white australia in the first half of the twentieth century, right up until the 1960s, the australian government sought to create a single, uniform white australian culture. White australia policy simple english wikipedia, the free. White australia policy by chloe longmuir the white australia policy is australias immigration laws against noneuropeans which the people back then thought were the only whiteborn people.
Rethinking the white australia policy australian institute. White australian policy synonyms, white australian policy pronunciation, white australian policy translation, english dictionary definition of white australian policy. Pdf from white australia policy to multicultural australia. Read the white australia policy sheet and answer these questions.
Until the early 1970s the infamous white australia policy restricted certain types of migrants, particularly those of asian background, with the goal of creating an angloceltic australian nation. How did japan feel about the white australia policy. 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. White australia policy national museum of australia. White australia policy september, 1945 church assembly in melbourne expressed dissatisfaction and con cern about our national attitude of mind as shown in the white australia policy and asked that the federal government be ap proached with a view to revision of. This was pursued through assimilation policies, which had devastating effects on indigenous communities. While the outlines of this policy are well known, what is less wellrecognised is the white australia policy was a massive bureaucratic exercise. Competition in the gold fields between british and chinese.
The term white australia policy was widely used to encapsulate a set of historical policies that aimed to forbid people of noneuropean ethnic origin, especially asians primarily chinese and pacific islanders from immigrating to australia, starting in 1901. List the reasons given in hirsts extract as to why the white australia policy was well supported. Aug 14, 2018 queensland senator fraser anning has praised the white australia policy and called for a plebiscite as the final solution to the immigration problem in the most inflammatory maiden speech to an. But the move to change it and open the country to migrants from asia. The white australia policy was proclaimed and accepted by all political parties. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The white australia policy was not a single government directive but a series of acts with a common goal. Research guides the national archives holds a number of records and research guides relating to the immigration restriction act.
On 23 december 1901, the immigration restriction act came into law. The white australia policy was the name given to laws that stopped non white immigrants from coming to live in australia. Immigration restriction act 1901 cth transcript pdf. Its abolition in 1973 created the conditions for the multicultural society australia has become. The impact of changing government policies on australias migration patterns, including abolition of the white australia policy, populate or perish describing the main features of a government policy that affected migration to australia, such as the immigration restriction act 1901 and use of. In the 1960s, nonwhite immigrants were not welcome in australia. Administering this system of racial exclusion and control involved the cooperation of federal and state governments and a complex, evolving web of legislation, regulations and guidelines. Gwenda tavan notes that the white australia policy was a morally imbued affirmation of the type of society australians wanted to build. This policy was introduced to australian immigration laws about 1897, and made law in 1901, to stop the influx of asian immigrants or anyone who could not claim white european heritage into australia. Oct 21, 2014 sir robert menzies on the white australia policy classic australian television duration.
These laws were put in place in 1901, and were repealed from the 1950s to 1970s. A clear sense of the national interest, an understanding of what is important for australians, and confidence in the capacity of australia to shape its future internationally define the governments approach to foreign and trade policy. Governments progressively dismantled such policies between 1949 and 1973. What was the white australia policy, and how does it still. Rethinking the white australia policy, by professor andrew. The communist party of australia and immigration restriction. Applause after that there was a fierce conflict in parliament as to whether the means we proposed to exclude the undesirable and colored aliens would suffice. A celebration of australia delivered in a country or region of strategic significance. The white australia policy describes australias prejudiced approach to immigration, from federation until the late twentieth century. The white australia policy is legally considered to have ended in 1973, when the then whitlam labour government formally announced a number of amendments to australias immigration policy. These amendments notably included the official removal of race being considered in any immigration application. Fact sheet 8 abolition of the white australia policy. The rainforest hermit who stepped out of the wild australian story duration.
The white australia policy describes australias approach to immigration from federation until the latter part of the 20th century, which favoured applicants from certain countries. Italian and other migrant settlement in australia chapter pdf available april 2017 with 1,586 reads how we measure reads. The first of these books to appear was written by keith windschuttle, a former marxist academic turned independent neoconservative writer. The white australia policy, the british empire, and. From white australia policy to multicultural australia. Definition of white australia policy in the definitions. The white australia policy, the british empire, and the world david c. There had long been strong sentiment in the continent about the need to protect against an influx of asian laborers particularly from china competing for jobs with white australians who made up 98% of the population upon federation in 1901. The white australia policy was a series of policies excluding and discriminating against non. Centuries aboriginal policies in the 19th and 20th absorption. The white australia policy, the british empire, and the world. The white australia policy had an immediate impact, rapidly changing demographics.
This document is an interactive pdf created for acrobat reader xi. How the white australia policy shaped australia history essay. Centuries aboriginal policies in the 19th and 20th. Jul 18, 2012 while the outlines of this policy are well known, what is less wellrecognised is the white australia policy was a massive bureaucratic exercise. The governorgeneral signed the document two days before christmas day 1901, a week after he had signed the pacific islander labourers act into law. Abolition of the white australia policy 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. Sir robert menzies on the white australia policy classic australian television duration. White australia policy immigration restriction act of 1901, fundamental legislation of the new commonwealth of australia that effectively halted all noneuropean immigration and that contributed to the development of a racially insulated white society. The effect was most obvious on the asian population. Atkinson in an editorial published during the australian commonwealths first federal election in march 1901, the sydney morning herald expressed support for the legislative exclusion of chinese, hindoos, and men of other eastern races from the new dominion. The term white australia policy was widely used to encapsulate a set of historical policies that. The immigration restriction act 1901, also known as the white australia policy, affected migrants who came to australia between 1901 and 1958.
My part in the abolition of the white australia policy. White australia policy september, 1945 church assembly in melbourne expressed dissatisfaction and con cern about our national attitude of mind as shown in the white australia policy and asked that the federal government be ap proached with a view to revision of australia s national policies con cerning asiatic races. The white australia policy immigration restriction act 1901. The australian government gradually dismantled the policy, over a twentyfive year period, until it was completely removed in 1973. The abolition of the policy took place over a period of 25 years. This policy was introduced to australian immigration laws about 1897, and made law in 1901, to stop the influx of asian immigrants or anyone who could not. The end of white australia and australias changing perceptions of asia, 19451990 so strong that we are not sorry to think that we shall have passed away before that day arrives. Apr 10, 2017 the white australia policy was not a single government directive but a series of acts with a common goal. Pdf until the early 1970s the infamous white australia policy restricted certain types of migrants from entering australia, particularly those of. There were those who wished that on the face of the.
Oct 01, 2018 rather than being driven by any shift in public opinion, the impetus for the progressive dismantling of the white australia policy, and the move from assimilation to multiculturalism between 1966 and 1975 came from a small group of reformers that began appearing in some australian universities in the 1960s who, like their counterparts in. But no reasoned analysis of the policy had been formulated nor had any attempt been made to trace its development through australian. Friday 11 january 1924 the sydney morning herald that the white australia policy cannot fail to retard immigration, and the subsequent progress and development of the commonwealth, is the opinion of viscount laverhulme, who is at present on a visit to australia. In 1901, 98% of people living in australia were of european background, with. The white australia policy immigration restriction act. Australias foreign and trade policy is about advancing the interests of australia and australians. Rationale behind the white australia policy and dictation test. What was the reason for the introduction of the white australia policy in australia. Rethinking the white australia policy, by professor andrew fraser. In 1871 pearson, an angloaustralian intellectual, resigned his chair in modern history at kings. Australia, peopled with british stock, is situated close to the asiatic world, with its teeming millions of people, and the ruling classes of britain and australia have always been afraid that the admission of asiatics would submerge our anglosaxondom. Bbc world service witness history, white australia policy.
In the white australia policy, keith windschuttle suggests the historical claims about the inherent racism of the policy have been exaggerated by a generation of historians too eager to please modern, raciallysensitive readers and too eager to condemn the first parliament for its racism. In the 1960s, non white immigrants were not welcome in australia. White australia policy simple english wikipedia, the. The law was to stop any people who were not from europe into australia. In this theatre, two anda half years ago, i laid special stress upon the white australia policy of the government. The white australia policy was both an immigration policy and a nationalist doctrine which reflected australias desire to maintain itself as a white, british nation. Despite the white australia policy, people from all over the world settled in australia, creating the multicultural society we see today. The evolution of multiculturalism as australian government policy. Australia, white australia policy moran major reference works.
The white australia policy of the late 19th and early 20th century was designed to reinforce that image and restrict migration to. Britain signed a military alliance with japan you can learn more about it here if you are interested how would this alliance have affected the introduction of the white australia policy. Though there is some disagreement as to specific years and periods of policy most scholars acknowledge the significant difference between the policy of absorption, which dominated before the second world war, and assimilation, which became prominent in the postwar era. The white australia policy was both an immigration policy and a nationalist doctrine which reflected australia s desire to maintain itself as a white, british nation. For example, in the 1940s, the jacobs, an indonesian family, fled australia after the arrival of the japanese military in their home region. Queensland senator fraser anning has praised the white australia policy and called for a plebiscite as the final solution to the immigration problem in the. In this act, unless the contrary intention appears, officer means any officer appointed under this act, or any officer of customs. In some cases, the white australia policy separated the asian spouses and children of australian citizens, sometimes leading to public outcry and successful lobbying by their local communities. Race and shame in the australian history wars windschuttle, keith on.
Australia as a nation race, rights and immigration australian. In 1901, 98% of people living in australia were of european background, with clean skin, and with british laws and customs. White australian policy definition of white australian. Although the immigration restriction act 1901 was repealed by the migration act 1958, which saw the end of the application of the dictation test, this didnt actually signify the end of the white australia policy. Information and translations of white australia policy in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web.