The United Nations Convention on Genocide is ratified by Australia. It comes into force in 1951. Aboriginal people are given the right to enrol and vote at Federal elections provided they are entitled to enrol for State elections or have
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is adopted by the United Nations with Australia’s support. Commonwealth Nationality and Citizenship Act creates status of ‘Australian Citizen’; previously Australians had been simply ‘British subjects’. Calwell announces that all non-Europeans who took refuge in Australia during the
Displaced Persons Scheme brings a total of 170,000 refugees, mainly from Eastern Europe – Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Croatia. In the period of post-war reconstruction 450,000 migrants arrive. Many people from non-English speaking countries take unskilled work, particularly those admitted
Government begins deporting Asians and Pacific Islanders who fled to Australia in World War II. Aboriginal workers on stations in the Pilbara, Western Australia, go on strike for better wages and conditions; the strike lasts until 1949.
Department of Immigration is established with plans to increase Australia’s population by 1% annually through migration. Post war immigration program is set up, with ‘populate or perish’ approach in response to labour shortages and fear of invasion by Asia. British
Four Australian soldiers and at least 231 Japanese prisoners are killed in a breakout attempt by Japanese prisoners of war from a prison camp in Cowra. 108 prisoners and three guards are wounded. No civilian casualties or injuries are recorded.
Exemption Certificate is introduced. This means that certain Aboriginal people are exempted from restrictive legislation and are entitled to vote, drink alcohol and move freely but are also prohibited from consorting with others who are not exempt. Aboriginal people use
Darwin is bombed by the Japanese. In Arnhem Land, Aboriginal people make up a special reconnaissance unit in defence of Australia. Northern Territory Aboriginal missions are evacuated. Children evacuated after the bombing are transferred to Victoria, South Australia or New
The Dunera arrives in Sydney carrying Jewish refugees from Europe – they are interned at Hay, New South Wales, as ‘enemy aliens’. Discrimination against Aboriginal people begins to raise community disquiet. South Australian Premier Playford requests Commonwealth Government to pay