White Australia policy

The 'White Australia policy' refers to an extensive period of largely unofficial discrimination in recent Australian history. During which immigration policy and citizenship requirements were biased to favour white European migrants over other races.

The policy can be traced back to the 1850s when violence against Chinese miners led to the colonial administration introducing restrictions on Chinese immigration. Towards the end of the 19th century the kanakas were the main target of discrimination, again on economic grounds. In 1901, the new Federal Government passed the Immigration Restriction Act to "place certain restrictions on immigration and... for the removal... of prohibited immigrants". Restrictions were placed on the immigration of the insane, of anyone likely to become a charge upon the public, and of those suffering from an serious contagious disease. It also prohibited prostitutes, criminals, and most manual labourers.

The policy was held during the first half of the 20th Century. It was not until after WW II that there was some relaxation. An attempt to deport non-white migrants that had arrived during the war aroused much protest and in 1949 the refugees were allowed to stay and Japanese war brides were also admitted.

The liberalising trend continued when in 1957 non-Europeans with 15 years residence in Australia were allowed to become citizens. Further the Migration Act of 1958 introduced a simpler system for entry and removed references to race. In 1966 non-Europeans were allowed to become citizens after five years and restrictions on migrants were further eased. The 1972 Labor government also moved towards removing race from the immigration policies. The 'death' of the policy is usually dated to 1973 and by the review of 1978 of immigration policy, racism was entirely removed from official policy.