Rights and freedoms

Migration Act 1966

06 May 1966

This law allows non-white immigrants to move to Australia, ending the ‘White Australia’ Policy.

The White Australia Policy had favoured the migration of people from Britain and Europe but it came under increasing criticism after the Second World War. By the 1960s Australia’s restrictive immigration policies were the cause of growing protest, media and public interest, and international embarrassment. Under the Migration Act 1966 potential immigrants were considered on their suitability as settlers not their race, effectively ending the White Australia Policy.

During the Second World War many non-European refugees were granted safety in Australia. Some, who had built lives here, were forcefully deported at the end of the war, causing much protest. In 1949, in the first step towards a non-discriminatory immigration policy, some of these refugees were allowed to stay and by 1952 Japanese war brides were accepted.

The legal end of the White Australia Policy was the Migration Act 1973 which removed race entirely as a factor in the selection of immigrants.

In our eyes every applicant is considered without prejudice, irrespective of the country from which he comes, and is regarded as a prospective entrant to Australia. If he or she fits into our well-considered and considerate policy, we welcome them, but if they do not meet the criteria on which we all agree as a Parliament, refusal becomes a matter of policy and is not directed at a singular individual racial category.
Hubert Opperman, Minister for Immigration, speaking in the House of Representatives, 29 March 1966
Magazine page from 1960.

'Abolish “White Australia” policy' Australian Women’s Weekly, 20 July 1960

Australian Women’s Weekly, National Library of Australia

'Abolish “White Australia” policy' Australian Women’s Weekly, 20 July 1960

Magazine page from 1960.

Australian Women’s Weekly, National Library of Australia

Description

These letters were published in the Australian Women’s Weekly, 20 July 1960. They were in response to a letter previously published in the 8 June 1960 edition of the magazine. In June, the Women’s Weekly published a letter from a Rhona Bryce which said ‘I agree with the “White Australia Policy.” If we let Asians into our country it would lower our prestige…also they would work for lower wages and put Australians out of work.’ These letters published a month later predominantly rejected this view and expressed support for ending the policy. The Migration Act 1966 ended the White Australia Policy.

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