Next Question:
What were the changing patterns of migration 1945-2000?
From 1945, after World War II ended, Arthur Calwell was established as the first immigration minister as a result of needing to populate the country in the event of a possible invasion from a foreign country, which resulted in the quote 'populate or perish'. Arthur Calwell saw the need for immigration, however, he supported the White Australia Policy to keep out Asian migrants from Australia. He prioritized migration from Great Britain, which only ten pounds was needed to enter Australia. Those British people that entered in the post WW period were called 'ten pound pommies'.
In 1947, Australia signed the treaty from the International Refugee organization (a temporary agency of the United Nations), which allowed refugees from war-torn countries such as Italy, Greece and East European countries. Since then, more migrants apart from Great Britain have entered into Australia.
The Colombo Plan was signed in 1950, allowing students from Asian countries to study in Australian Universities.
In 1957, non-Europeans with 15 years residence were allowed to become Australian citizens. In 1958, the Dictation test was abolished and a new and simple way of entry was introduced. Previously, immigrants were avoided from settling into Australia due to the Dictation test.
In 1966, Immigration Minister Hubert Opperman reviewed the immigration policy and allowed well qualified people to settle into Australia. More restrictions were relaxed on immigration from countries that were not European. This therefore allowed migrants from Lebanon and the Pacific Islanders to settle into Australia.
In 1973, the death of the White Australia Policy has finally arrived =P (sorry just ignore that but you get what I mean) and this meant that anyone, regardless of background/race were allowed to settle into Australia.
The first intake of Asian migrants (in 1976) were the Vietnamese refugees who fled the fall of Saigon which occured in April 30 1975. The refugees attempted to flee the Communist Take-over of South Vietnam. Australia allowed the refugees to enter because Australia was involved in the Vietnam Warm, fighting with the South Vietnamese.
The Vietnamese Chinese fled to Australia and other countries in 1978 as a result of the oppression from the Vietnamese Government to the ethnic Chinese in Vietnam.
From the period of 1984-1997, Hong Kong Chinese settled into Australia as people feared the take-over of Hong Kong by the People's Republic of China would affect their livehoods (Communist take-over). These bunch migrants for the first time, were middle to upper class people compared with other migrant groups.
In 1989, Bob Hawke issued 50,000 vias for Chinese students to stay in Australia following the fears of the Tiananmen Square protests. Since then, migration from the People's Republic of China has grown rapidly, and is now the largest source of migrants from Asia.
From the 1990s, younger people migrated to Australia to study in Universities. These groups included Indonesian Students, Chinese students (which would become the largest and most dominant proportion of the 2000's) and students from other countries. These people would initially study in Australia, and at the same time, apply for Permanent Residency so that their relatives could come over to Australia.
Talk about refugees from Africa?... if that's part of it?
Next Question;
What were the political changes of the 1960's-1970's that occurred in Australia?
