1. WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY

2. was accepted at Federation 1901

3. This policy stated that after 1901, non- whites could only enter Australia on a temporary basis under a permit.

4. The immediate post-war orientation was assimilation. The immigrant was to settle into the pre-existing culture and society without causing any noticeable change.

5. The immigrant did all the changing; the society did none. The immigrant was expected to learn English, acquire an Australian accent, eat Australian-style cuisine, go to Australian schools i.e. blend in.

6. Only those immigrants who could be absorbed without changing the colour composition of Australian society, i.e. who were white, or who would not challenge the essentially British/European orientation of Australian culture, were allowed in.

7. The White Australia Policy was gradually dismantled between 1952 (when Japanese wives of Australian servicemen were admitted under 5 year permits) and 1972/73 and replaced with multiculturalism.

8. After 1972, the Whitlam Labor Government had a commitment to non-discrimination on racial grounds and so removed race and country of origin from the selection criteria. They also recognised the trade, political and diplomatic interests of Australia in the Asian region, which necessitated the removal of the White Australia policy.