White Australia Policy
THINK, PAIR, SHARE: Do you think ‘white’ people are advantaged in Australia today? What disadvantages might exist for ‘non-white’ people in Australia today?
In 1901, 98% of people living in Australia were of European background, with “white” skin, and with British laws and customs.[1] The government wanted to keep Australia this way. This had an influence on the type of people living in Australia. In 2001, many Australians claimed to have fathers from Europe. About six percent were Asian, and about two percent were Aboriginals. Most of the remaining 92% were European.[source?]
In the 1850s many Chinese people, mainly men, came to Australia to search for gold. This lead to anti-Chinese riots on the goldfields at Lambing Flat in New South Wales, and at the Buckland River diggings in Victoria.[2] The Victorian government tried to stop more Chinese from arriving, by charging a special tax of £10 for every Chinese person who came on a ship to Victoria.[3] In 1861 New South Wales passed laws to stop Chinese people coming, and Queensland passed laws in 1877, and Western Australia in 1886.[4] Later men from the Pacific Islands, called “kanakas”, were brought to Australia to work on the sugarcane farms in Queensland. This also caused problems because they worked for much lower wages than other people.[2] The new Federal government of Australia acted in 1901 to stop certain types of people coming to work or live in Australia.
This test was made to keep out anyone that the Australian government did not want to allow into Australia without being seen to be racist.[5] Anyone who wanted to come to Australia had to be literate, that is be able to read and write. This would be proved with a dictation test.[6] A person had to be able to write down something read to them in a European language by a government official. It did not have to be in a language that they understood. At first the test was to be given in English, but the government thought that American negroes and Japanese people would be able to pass the test.[7] For example, to keep out people from Malta, they were given the test in Dutch.[5] One person who spoke several languages was given the test in Gaelic.[5] The test could also be given to people in the first year that they were living in Australia. In 1932, this was changed to the first five years, and it could be given many times. From 1902 to 1909, the test was given to 1359 people, and only 52 passed.[7] After 1909, no person passed the test.[7] Anyone who failed the test was forced to leave Australia.[7] This law was used until 1958.[7]
- Try completing a dictation test two ways. If you fail – even just one mistake – you will not be allowed to enter Australia!
- Reflect – how does it feel?
