Immigration Reform Group is founded, advocating ending the White Australia Policy. Australian citizens are permitted to bring non-European spouses and unmarried minor children into Australia; this is extended to all British subjects in 1960. ‘Distinguished and highly qualified’ non-Europeans are
Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines is established. The title is changed in 1964 to Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Commonwealth Migration Act is revised, abolishing the dictation test and introducing an entry permit system
Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement is formed and National Aboriginal Day of Observance Committee (NAIDOC) is formed. Victorian Aborigines Welfare Board replaces the Board for the Protection of Aborigines. The Welfare Board is abolished in 1967. Treaty of Rome establishes
Permanent resident status is granted to non-Europeans who had fled to Australia during the second world war or had been long term residents (at least 15 years); non-European spouses of Australian citizens are permitted to apply for naturalisation. Hungarian refugees
Assisted passages are introduced for migrants from the USA, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
Federal Government enacts Wards’ Employment Ordinance in the Northern Territory which makes Aboriginal people wards of the state with minor status and discriminates against them in employment and pay. Employment practices go against International Labour Organisation’s Convention 107. Concern is
Assisted passage agreement is concluded with West Germany and arrangements are made with Austria and Greece. Japanese wives of Australian servicemen are admitted under permits valid for 5 years.
Federal Government convenes Australian Conference for Native Welfare, with every state and territory represented except Victoria and Tasmania, which claim to have no Aboriginal ‘problem’. The Conference officially adopts a policy of ‘assimilation’ for Aboriginal people. ‘Assimilation means, in practical
First annual Citizenship Convention is held in Canberra, with aim of helping non-British migrants assimilate and become citizens. Russians living in China begin to leave after the Communist victory in 1949 and migrate to Australia.