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White Austrlia Policy
The Commonwealth of Australia is established and the White Australia Policy begins with the introduction of the Immigration Restriction Act. Its aim was to keep Australia white. It kept out ‘undesirables’ by only allowing in immigrants of European white descent into Australia, as well as the use of the dictation test. -
Jewish Refugees
The Lyons Government agrees to accept 15, 000 Jewish refugees from Nazism (only 7,500 reach Australia before war breaks out). -
Ten Pound Poms
WWII ends and the Curtin Government begins a campaign to boost migration led by Immigration Minister Calwell’s slogan “POPULATE OR PERISH”. People who came to Australia at this time were expected to assimilate to Australian culture.
The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme begins to encourage Brits to come to Australia, the scheme is nicknamed “Ten Pound Poms”. -
International Refugee Organization
Calwell signs an agreement with the International Refugee Organization (IRO) to accept 12,000 refugees from Europe per year. -
The Colombo Plan
The Colombo Plan saw a number of Asian students come to Australia to study. -
UN Refugee Convention
Australia signs the UN Refugee Convention; this defines what a refugee is and obliges Australia to give refugees appropriate protection, humanitarian assistance and other human rights, and to not send them back. -
Citizenship Changes
For the first time, non-European residents could apply for citizenship. However they had to be residents for 15 years (Europeans only had to be residents for 5 years). -
Revised Migration Act
The Revised Migration Act is introduced which abolished the dictation test. -
Holt Government and migration applications
The Holt Government announces that applications for migration were to be considered on the basis of well-qualified people and how they would contribute their skills to Australia and not race. -
Abolishment of White Australia Policy
The White Australia Policy was formally dismantled by Holt Liberal government. -
Racial Discrimation Act
The Racial Discrimination Act was passed: this made it illegal to discriminate people based on nationality, colour, immigration status etc. -
First Boat
The first wave of ‘boat people’ arrived from Vietnam. -
Fraser Government policy
Multiculturalism becomes the official policy of the Fraser Government -
Second boat
Second wave of ‘boat people’ arrive from Indo-China. -
Migration Reform Act
The Migration Reform Act is introduced by the Keating Government, it meant being detained for those who enter Australia ‘illegally.’ -
One Nation
One Nation is founded by Pauline Hanson: this political party gained support by being highly critical of asylum seekers, immigrants and how the Australian government was handling the situation. -
Third Boat
Third wave of ‘boat people’ arrived from the Middle East. -
Tampa and Howard
The Howard Government refuses to allow the Norwegian boat ‘Tampa’ to enter Australian waters.
This leads to the ‘Pacific solution’ where outlying parts of Australia are excised from the migration zone: refugee boats who reach this zone would now be returned to Indonesia or sent to offshore processing centers on island nations in the Pacific ocean (Nauru and Manus Island) -
Cronulla Riot
Cronulla Riots erupt in Sydney after tension between the Lebanese and Australians -
Rudd Government and Pacific Solution
The Rudd Government abandons the ‘Pacific Solution’ and closes offshore asylum centers on Manus Island and Nauru, instead ‘boat people’ are to be processed on Christmas Island. -
Gillard and Asylum
The Gillard Government reopens offshore processing centres in Nauru and Manus Island after a surge in asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka arrive.
The entire Australia mainland was excised from the migration zone: meaning people who arrive by boat cannot have their asylum claims processed in Australia.
The Special Humanitarian Program is increased by 30% (or 20,000 more) to resettle Iraqi and Syrian refugees in Australia. -
Rudd and PNG
The Rudd Government announced the ‘PNG solution,’ people who arrive in Australia via boat are now no longer allowed to settle in Australia without a visa. -
Operation Abbott
The Abbott Government announced ‘Operation Sovereign Borders’ to turn back asylum boats.
