“White Australia”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30466, 13 June 1964, Page 12

“White Australia”

The Australian Labour Party is about to drop the term “ White Australia ” from its immigration policy, according to a report from a political correspondent in Canberra. A spokesman for the party said the term was now regarded by as offensive, “ and there was a growing body of opinion “ in Labour Party circles that this description did “not truly represent party policy”. The term has, in fact, disappeared from official literature, indicating that officialdom is aware of the offence it causes. The 1940 Official Year Book of the Commonwealth stated baldly: “In pursuance of the ‘White Australia’ *' policy, the general practice is not to permit Asiatics “or other coloured immigrants to enter Australia “ for the purpose of settling permanently ”, In 1941 the comparable passage read: “ In pursuance of the “ established policy . . By 1958 the “ Asiatics or “ other coloured immigrants ” had become “ Asians “ or other persons of non-European descent ”, and in the latest edition of the year book they are simply “ persons of non-European descent ”. Exceptions are now made for “ spouses and minor unmarried “children of Australian citizens and other British “ subjects permanently resident in Australia ”. Apart from this minor concession, the immigration policy of Australia today is substantially the “White “ Australia ” policy of the pre-war era. Before World War II the Japanese w 7 ere frequently referred to as “the Yellow Peril”. Yet although Australians have been understandably slow to forgive the Japanese war crimes, this phrase has dropped out of use since Japan became Australia’s biggest wool customer. This is a sign of the changed attitude in Australia towards Asians, and, perhaps, towards other coloured persons. Although the Australian aboriginal retains his inferior legal, social, and economic status, an overdue interest in his welfare has appeared in recent years. No-one suggests that Australia should throw off all restrictions on coloured immigrants; but it would certainly be sensible to remove the objectionable discrimination inherent in the “White Aus- “ tralia ” policy. Even quite small immigration quotas would establish the principle of racial equality.