Multiculturalism

Source 1: Developments in the idea of a multicultural Australia

Popular general view pre WWII:
Institutional connections between
Australia and the Asia Region
Australia is an outpost of British values,
geographically isolated from its homeland. Australias primary orientation is with
Immigration is controlled by policy
194
Britain pre WWII.
favouring immigrants from certain
5
Shifts to USA after WWII.
countries.

201
3

1958: Dictation test, intended to exclude

Asian migrants, is abolished.
1966: Skilled migration program is
extended to non-Europeans.
1973: White Australia Policy is dismantled.
1975: Racial Discrimination Act formally
outlaws discrimination based on religion
and ethnic origin.
1976: The first Vietnamese refugees start
arriving by boat in Australia.
1984: A respected historian proposes
limiting immigration from Asia, arguing that
Asian immigration threatens social
cohesion in Australia.
1987: The Office of Multicultural Affairs is
established.
1996: The leader of a nationalistic political
party is elected to government. This party
protests against multiculturalism and Asian
and Islander migration; such views are
criticised in the Asian media.
2001: The Border Protection Bill provides
government with the power to remove any
ship in the territorial waters of Australia
(targeting so-called boat people).
2005: The Cronulla race riots call the
success of multiculturalism into doubt, both
in Australia and overseas.
2007: The Prime Minister institutes a
citizenship test that requires prospective
immigrants to have adequate knowledge of
Australia.
2007: Australia joins the Asia Cup (Soccer)
competition.
2011: The governments solution to illegal
immigrants the Malaysian solution is
defeated in the High Court.
2013: Human rights and refugee agencies
are critical of Australias policies regarding
illegal entrants (so called boat people).
[Not to scale]

1957: Australia signs Agreement of

Commerce with Japan, thus
establishing itself as Asias premier
resources supplier. (Australian
Government, Australia in the Asian
century, White Paper, Ch. 3, p. 79)
Australian policy towards Asia was
driven mainly by political, defence and
security considerations, particularly
decolonisation and its implications for
Asian security, and the regional
manifestations of the Cold War. (ibid).
http://asiancentury.dpmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/whi
te-paper/chapter-3.pdf

1960 Australia has established

diplomatic missions in 14 Asian
countries. (ibid)

1974: Australia becomes an external

dialogue partner with ASEAN
(Association of Southeast Asian
Nations).

Late 1980s and early 1990s: Australia

plays a central role in the development
of the APEC (AsiaPacific Economic
Cooperation) forum.

Since 1990s: Australia has greatly

expanded as a provider of international
education to Asian students.

1999: G20 (a group of the 19 richest

nations plus the European Union) is
established. It includes Australia,
Indonesia, China, South Korea and
Japan.

2010: Australia was the sixth-largest

OECD Development Assistance
Committee donor to Asian countries
(ibid, p. 80).