Australia, White Australia Policy

Abstract

The White Australia Policy was a series of policies excluding and discriminating against non‐European nonwhites from the beginning of Australia's federation in 1901 through to the late 1960s. It was based on beliefs about race and its importance for national unity. The aim of the policy was to defend Australia as a white, British nation. Apart from beliefs about race, the Australian labor movement also supported the White Australia Policy because it was believed that the presence of nonwhite labor would drive down wages and conditions. Restrictions on nonwhite immigrants became politically difficult after World War II, leading to the gradual dismantling of the White Australia Policy.