Rethinking the Future – – Rethinking the Future – A series of four lectures – by Joseph A. Camilleri Hosted by St Michael’s on Collins Melbourne Lecture 4 Australia Adrift: Navigating New Pathways

Australia: In the Middle of Nowhere

Historical Background Original inhabitants of Australia (Indigenous Australia): earliest definite human remains about 40,000-50,000 years old Some estimates date as far back as 125,000 years ago 1788: establishment of British penal colonies : More than 160,000 convicts were brought to Australia Gold rush era of the 1850s – arrival of many Chinese

Racism in Australian History Original inhabitants = dispossessed of their land and subjected to discrimination Relations between Indigenous and non- Indigenous Australia remain unresolved With increasing migration, discrimination was also targeted on newly arrived groups, especially those with language backgrounds other than English

White Australia Policy ‘White Australia Policy’ ‘White Australia Policy’ = Immigration Restriction Act 1901 as aimed at ending the employment of Pacific Islanders Origins of WAP: White miners’ resentment towards industrious Chinese diggers  violence in Victoria & NSW  restrictions on Chinese immigration: Leading politicians were emphatic: no place for 'Asiatics' or 'coloureds' in the Australia of the future.

‘White Australia’ Much more than an immigration policy Attempt to reconcile competing pressures of history and geography Codeword symbolising: Australia’s view of the world and its place in it Australia’s self-understanding and sense of identity Foundation stone on which would be constructed a web of domestic and external policies

Underlying principles Sense of profound insecurity Racial divide Asia: source of threat Reliance on (British) ‘Empire’ empire over which the sun never sets Forward defence premium for insurance policy regional policing role (‘deputy sheriff’) Agriculture patterned on European climate & methods ‘White Australia’

Developed in late 18 th and 19 th centuries Given full legislative and normative endorsement in first 20 years of Federation Maintained until WWII Decline of British Empire  four key changes: Shift to reliance on US empire Establishment of diplomatic infrastructure Acceptance of need for much larger migration intake Tentative, painful steps into Asia ‘White Australia’

Post-World War II WAP WAP = slightly relaxed, but immigration still largely European Australia of 1950s and 1960s: Migrant communities were expected to shed their cultural identities, including their own languages, 1966: ‘Distinguished’ non-Europeans allowed to come to Australia WAP 1973: Last vestiges of WAP were abandoned Word ‘Multiculturalism’ first introduced into government policy

Australia’s “Multiculturalism” 2011 Census: about one quarter of resident population = made up of people born overseas 43% of Australian residents = either born overseas or had at least one parent born overseas 250 ancestries 200 languages spoken in Australia After English, most common languages: Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Italian, Greek, Arabic

Important Trends Australia today = cosmopolitan, dynamic society Growth of community language schools Ethnic media Ethnic businesses Diverse religious practices and places of worship Rich variety in cultural activities – in food, fashion, music, art and architecture.

Important Trends One religious faith, Islam, has grown considerably in recent years and has captured a good deal of media and political attention Muslims in Australia: 1947: 2, : 22, : 476, : >500,000

Temporary Migrants tourists students business people for short stays people with specialist skills (e.g. managers, academics, doctors, entertainers, media and film staff, sports people, religious workers, visiting academics) Diplomats

Short-Term Arrivals to Australia

International Students

Australia China Trade

Australia's Transforming Environment: THE GREAT TRANSITION Australia's Transforming Environment: THE GREAT TRANSITION Limits to ‘Empire’ Limits to state sovereignty Limits to security by military force Limits to fossil fuel driven growth  Limits to existing forms of governance

THE GREAT TRANSITION: Australia’s Reponses Four phases: Post-WWII ( ) Menzies years ( ) Reconciling history and geography: a new approach – from Gorton to Keating ( ) Return to more familiar territory amidst growing risks & uncertainties ( ??)

THE GREAT TRANSITION: Challenges Facing Australia Limits to Empire  Decline of US empire  No new empire in sight Asia’s transformation Tentative multiculturalism Energy crisis & global warming Other sources of insecurity

Multiculturalism: Australia’s Greatest Asset Social harmony and cohesion Better educational outcomes A more productive workforce A more effective trading performance A coherent and comprehensive security policy A better focused regional and global role