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Lecture 3 Immigration (chapter 7). Immigration. Australia and New Zealand are the two “most British†societies in the world outside the United Kingdom. (James Jupp) How was / is this possible?
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Lecture 3 Immigration (chapter 7)
Immigration Australia and New Zealand are the two “most British” societies in the world outside the United Kingdom. (James Jupp) How was / is this possible? Because it was carefully & deliberately planned within the context of the worldwide British empire.
Immigration The 3 pillars of Australia’s immigration policy: • To maintain British hegemony and “white” domination • To strengthen Australia’s position economically & militarily by selective mass migration • State control of these processes
Immigration Gold rush exception (1850s) Otherwise only official immigration programmes 2 main sources: • Britain • Displaced persons in European camps (& southern European until 1965 due to change in US immigration law)
Immigration 1901 – “a White Australia, in which the absolute mastering and dominating element shall be British” Alfred Deakin (2nd Prime Minister of Australia) Problem for Australia : to find enough human resources - for national defence - farming, mining, working in factories etc.
Immigration • White Australia policy 1901-1973 (definitely abolished in 1975) Whitlam labor government • 1958 Revised Migration Act (Dictation abolished in 1958) “populate or perish” policy • Term invented by Billy Hughes after great losses in WWI • Term revived by Calwell after WWII (1942 Japan’s attack)
Immigration schemes Different categories of immigrants: • Ten pound poms (British subjects) • 1940 directed towards northern Europe • 1954 directed towards eastern Europe • 1950-1970 =>towards southern Europe (Italy, Greece) • 1965 change of US immigration law • 1968 consolidation of European Community • Since 1970s towards Asian countries / neighbours
Selection and exclusion after the 1970s • 1972 Whitlam government declares it will end “white Australia” policy and start of “multiculturalism” (move from assimilation to acculturation) • 1979 new system adopted to measure suitability and employability through a points system • 1988 FitzGerald report recommends three immigration streams (family – skill & humanitarian) specially based on skill • 1991 mandatory detention for asylum seekers arriving by boat • 1992 special assistance for Yugoslavs (humanitarian programme) • 1998 Howard coalition wins general election (One Nation gains 1 mil votes) • 1999 new points system favours skilled migrants (Woomera detention opened) • 2001 Tampa episode – “Pacific solution” • 2003 Woomera closed • 2004 Liberal-National coalition wins 4th general election (One Nation loses) • 2005 race riots against Lebanese at Cronulla beach (at Christmas)
Cultural identity • What are the Australian values? • What does it mean to be Australian? • A convict, a squatter, a digger (old and new), an Aborigine, an immigrant? • 1967 referendum granting Australian citizenship to Aborigines • Black armband view vs. one people one nation • One flag – which flag?
Problems with cultural identity • Severing cultural ties with Great Britain • Australian is not British, but … speaks English • Racism: • at institutional level • societal level • individual level