Lecture 3 Immigration (chapter 7)

Immigration Australia and New Zealand are the two “most British” societies in the world outside the United Kingdom. (James Jupp) How was / is this possible? Because it was carefully & deliberately planned within the context of the worldwide British empire.

Immigration The 3 pillars of Australia’s immigration policy: 1)To maintain British hegemony and “white” domination 2)To strengthen Australia’s position economically & militarily by selective mass migration 3)State control of these processes

Immigration Gold rush exception (1850s) Otherwise only official immigration programmes 2 main sources: 1)Britain 2)Displaced persons in European camps (& southern European until 1965 due to change in US immigration law)

Immigration 1901 – “a White Australia, in which the absolute mastering and dominating element shall be British” Alfred Deakin (2 nd Prime Minister of Australia) Problem for Australia : to find enough human resources -for national defence - farming, mining, working in factories etc.

Immigration White Australia policy (definitely abolished in 1975) Whitlam labor government 1958 Revised Migration Act (Dictation abolished in 1958) “populate or perish” policy Term invented by Billy Hughes after great losses in WWI Term revived by Calwell after WWII (1942 Japan’s attack)

Immigration schemes Different categories of immigrants: Ten pound poms (British subjects) 1940 directed towards northern Europe 1954 directed towards eastern Europe =>towards southern Europe (Italy, Greece) 1965 change of US immigration law 1968 consolidation of European Community Since 1970s towards Asian countries / neighbours

Selection and exclusion after the 1970s 1972 Whitlam government declares it will end “white Australia” policy and start of “multiculturalism” (move from assimilation to acculturation) 1979 new system adopted to measure suitability and employability through a points system 1988 FitzGerald report recommends three immigration streams (family – skill & humanitarian) specially based on skill 1991 mandatory detention for asylum seekers arriving by boat 1992 special assistance for Yugoslavs (humanitarian programme) 1998 Howard coalition wins general election (One Nation gains 1 mil votes) 1999 new points system favours skilled migrants (Woomera detention opened) 2001 Tampa episode – “Pacific solution” 2003 Woomera closed 2004 Liberal-National coalition wins 4 th general election (One Nation loses) 2005 race riots against Lebanese at Cronulla beach (at Christmas)

Cultural identity What are the Australian values? What does it mean to be Australian? A convict, a squatter, a digger (old and new), an Aborigine, an immigrant? 1967 referendum granting Australian citizenship to Aborigines Black armband view vs. one people one nation One flag – which flag?

Problems with cultural identity Severing cultural ties with Great Britain Australian is not British, but … speaks English Racism: –at institutional level –societal level –individual level