Australian Immigration 1945 1990
Immigration is defined as the movement of people into another nation with the intention of residing there permanently. Immigration has always been an important part of Australian history, from the convict era to the present. Different immigration decisions, made by the government, have had a strong impact on Australian history, effecting the country socially, politically and economically. Immigration has shaped the nation of Australia into a multicultural society with many different attitudes and values. In 1901 Australia became a federation and knew that immigration to Australia by other nations could become a problem. The immigration restriction act was the first act to be passed by the new Commonwealth Parliament. ... Australian citizens supported the exclusion of Asian and African applicants because they wanted to maintain racial purity by preventing coloured races from entering the country . The Australian population also wanted to protect the working standards and feared the possibility that they could become unemployed because of an Asian or African who would provide cheap labour. ... Arthur Calwell was born in 1896 and when the Labor government set up the department of immigration in 1945 he became the first minister for immigration. ... On the 2nd of August 1945, Calwell said, “we need it for reasons of defense and for the fullest expansion of our economy. We can increase our seven million by an increased birth rate and by a policy of planned immigration within the limits of our existing legislation. ... When migrants came to Australia they were encouraged to adopt the Australian way of life.