‘Immigration debate’ occurs in response to community concern about high levels of immigration in the context of high unemployment. Professor Geoffrey Blainey, historian and academic,

Labor Government reconfirms non-discriminatory migration policies. Migration Act is amended to replace term ‘alien’ with ‘non-citizen’ and end favoured treatment of immigrants who are British

New immigration scheme emphasising family reunion and needed occupational skills begins. In the lead up to and during the Commonwealth games in Brisbane, large protests

Commonwealth Human Rights Commission is established. It is replaced in 1986 by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. National Aboriginal Conference hosts an Australian meeting of the

National Federation of Land Councils is formed. Dispute at Noonkanbah, Western Australia, over drilling on sacred sites draws national and international attention to Aboriginal rights.

Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs (AIMA) is established to raise awareness of cultural diversity and promote social cohesion. Over 200,000 Indo-Chinese refugees in camps throughout

Aboriginal Development Commission is established. Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Ordinance is passed, instituting prosecution for trespass and desecration of Aboriginal sites. The Ranger (uranium mining)

Report of the Review of Post-Arrival Migrant Programs and Services (Galbally Report) is released, with 3 aims: maintenance of cultural identity; promotion of equality of

First Vietnamese ‘boat people’ arrive in Darwin. Commonwealth Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act implements the main recommendations of the Woodward Report. The most significant land rights legislation

Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act is passed, prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, descent or ethnic origin. A mass anti-Chinese meeting is held in Hyde

Second Report of the Aboriginal Land Commission (the Woodward Report) is tabled, acknowledging Aboriginal people’s link with the land; ‘to deny Aborigines the right to

Minister for Immigration, Al Grassby, delivers the ‘Family of the Nation’ speech, introducing the term ‘multicultural’ and linking it with social justice. A policy of

Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra is set up as focus for land rights movement on Australia Day, 26 January. Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs is

Nations International Year for Action to Combat Racism is held Aboriginal flag is flown for the first time in Victoria Square, Adelaide. Aboriginal people are counted in

Increasing diversity of population occurs throughout the 1970s with migration of new groups of refugees from South and Central America and Africa and increasing numbers