When World War 2 ended, the world was left in a rather complicated political climate between mass refugee migration out of Europe, post-war tensions, Japan and Germany being under the control of various different countries and fear of another global conflict. In particular, Australia was cautious after the near invasion by Japan, particularly when Darwin was bombed in 1942 during WW2. Eager to increase the population of Australia in fear of another attack from other powerful neighbouring countries, the Australian government adopted a new perspective on migration and began changing the White Australia Policy. The perspective of a higher population leading to higher national security grew to be termed as the Populate or Perish migration perspective and with it, the Federal Department of Immigration was made.
The abolition of the White Australia Policy was very gradual though and began mostly as a broadening of the term 'White' to mean Europeans such as Baltic, Slavic and even Italian and German (whom they were just recently at war with) people. Eastern people took much longer to be granted an easy citizenship as the fear of the 'other' tensions only grew with fear of another Asian attack culminating around Communism and Cold War Conflicts.
Still, Australia experienced incredible rates of immigration in this period and there were three main groups of migrants. Which would you like to experience?
The abolition of the White Australia Policy was very gradual though and began mostly as a broadening of the term 'White' to mean Europeans such as Baltic, Slavic and even Italian and German (whom they were just recently at war with) people. Eastern people took much longer to be granted an easy citizenship as the fear of the 'other' tensions only grew with fear of another Asian attack culminating around Communism and Cold War Conflicts.
Still, Australia experienced incredible rates of immigration in this period and there were three main groups of migrants. Which would you like to experience?