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White Australia Policy
Limiting Numbers
Australian
government policy of immigration restriction, mainly aimed at non
Europeans, which began in the 1850s in an attempt to limit the number
of Chinese entering the Australian gold fields and was official
until 1945.
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Ending Employment
In
1901 the new Federal Government passed an Act ending the employment
of Pacific Islanders. The new 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.
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Non British Europeans
The term 'White Alien' was widely used in the period
from 1901 to 1930 to describe non British Europeans and was particularly
directed towards Italians, Greeks, Yugoslavs and Poles. Before World
War 1 here was no specific legislation which prohibited or restricted
European immigrants and the numbers wishing to settle in Australia
were comparatively small. Nor were Europeans encouraged.
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The Regulation
World War 1 and its aftermath, however, resulted
in the limitation and prohibition of specific European nationalities
for particular periods. Regulations were adopted in 1924 and 1925
which required all 'Alien' migrants to possess 40 pounds landing
money or hold landing permits issued as a result of their maintenance
or employment being guaranteed by relatives or friends in Australia.
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Prohibiting 'Aliens'
Despite these measures, there was a general increase
in the number of 'White Aliens' arriving as the 1920s progressed.
In 1925, the Governor General was given wide powers to prohibit
'Aliens' on the grounds of economic, industrial or other conditions
in Australia, if they were unsuitable, or likely to assimilate and
become responsible citizens.
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The Depression
Quotas for all European groups were reduced in the
late 1920s and finally gave way to more rigid forms of control as
the effects of the Depression made themselves felt. From 1930, landing
permits were only issued to 'White Aliens' who were close dependent
relatives of Australian residents. The landing money requirement
increased and served as a disincentive to European immigration.
These provisions remained in force until economic conditions improved
in the second half of the 1930s.
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Orientating Australia
The balance between British and European immigration,
however, was changing and this, for many conservative British oriented
Australians, was a cause for concern. A major preoccupation of policy
makers at this time was the establishment of 'Alien Enclaves'. From
the turn of the century there were various laws in Australia that
aimed to keep people who were not from a white European background
out of the country.
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Keeping Australia Together
The laws also restricted the lives of people hoe
were not white and who were already living in Australia. At the
time, many Australians believed that this 'White Australia' policy
would be the only way to keep large parts of Australian society
similar to Britain. However more and more Australians argued against
this racist policy, especially in the years after World War II.
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Australia's Racism
Other countries also criticised Australia's racism.
Immigration restrictions were gradually eased as Australians began
to be less fearful of people from a wide range of backgrounds. The
final official barriers against immigrants on the basis of their
race were removed in 1973 by which time the 'White Australia' policy
had been formally dismantled.
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The Abolition
The
abolition of the White Australia Policy was a gradual process that
took place over a period of 25 years. The first step towards a less
discriminatory migration policy was taken by Immigration Minister
Harold Holt, with support from the Australian Labor Party.
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