When was the White Australia policy abolished?

The March 1966 announcement was the watershed in abolishing the ‘White Australia’ policy, and non-European migration began to increase.

What was the White Australia Policy?

White Australia policy, formally Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, in Australian history, fundamental legislation of the new Commonwealth of Australia that effectively stopped all non-European immigration into the country and that contributed to the development of a racially insulated white society.

How did the Ten Pound Poms impact Australia?

It was intended to substantially increase the population of Australia and to supply workers for the country’s booming industries. In return for subsidising the cost of travelling to Australia, the Government promised employment prospects, affordable housing, and a generally more optimistic lifestyle.

What was the purpose of the Immigration Restriction Act in Australia?

About the White Australia policy The Immigration Restriction Act was one of the first Commonwealth laws passed after Federation. It was based on the existing laws of the colonies. The aim of the law was to limit non-white (particularly Asian) immigration to Australia, to help keep Australia ‘British’.

Why was the dictation test abolished?

October 8, 2018 marked the 60th anniversary of the abolition of the controversial dictation test, which was a central feature of the Immigration Restriction Act 1901. Since the choice of language was at the discretion of the officer, undesirable immigrants were destined to fail the test.

Why did the White Australia policy stop?

Successive governments dismantled the policy in stages after the conclusion of World War II, with the encouragement of first non-British, non-white immigration, allowing for a large multi-ethnic post-war program of immigration.

When did the 10 assisted passage to Australia start?

From 1945 to 1972, over a million United Kingdom migrants travelled to their new Australian homeland on board ships of the P&O and Orient Line. Known as the Ten Pound Poms, this mass exodus was a scheme devised by the Australian and British Governments in order to help populate Australia.

What does assisted passage mean?

assisted passage in British English (əˈsɪstɪd ˈpæsɪdʒ) a scheme whereby a government encourages people to emigrate or return home by agreeing to pay for their ticket. It wasn’t until 1814 that the wives of convicts were given assisted passage.

How did the war Precautions Act affect Australia?

This law extended the government’s power, allowing it to introduce restrictions on the Australian population for the duration of the war. It aimed to protect communication and transport systems and to censor information that might assist the enemy.

Why was the White Australia policy removed?

Australia in the 1960s 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.

When did the Ten Pound Pom scheme start?

1945
In 1945 the Australian Government introduced the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme (also known as the ‘Ten-Pound Pom’ scheme) to attract migrant families from Britain. By 1947 more than 400,000 British people had signed up for the scheme.