[Editor: This chapter is part of The White Australia Policy: The Rise and Fall of Australia’s Racial Ideology (2025).]
Erosion of the White Australia Policy
With a changing of attitudes occurring in the 1950s and 1960s regarding the White Australia Policy (a change primarily led by the universities, churches, and newspapers), support for the Policy in parliament was waning, with cracks appearing in the edifice of White Australia.
In a style reminiscent of George “Yes-No” Reid (who tried to “have a bet each way” by saying “Yes” to the Federation of Australia in some aspects, whilst also saying “No” to Federation in other aspects), politicians in Canberra began to speak in a two-way manner regarding immigration, talking in favour of Australia’s traditional immigration policy, whilst at the same time speaking in support of changes which would erode it or gradually diminish it.
John Gorton (Liberal Party), who was Minister for the Navy (1958-1963), and who later became Prime Minister (1968-1971), said in parliament in 1959 that using a quota system for immigration was poor policy, that the country should avoid having a situation would result in the creation of “colonies of people with a skin of different colour” (in essence, advocating for a predominantly white Australia), whilst also stating that the nation should accept an intake of Asians, with “each case being judged on its own merits” (the “merits” proviso was emphasised, appearing three times in his speech):
“The last matter upon which I wish to touch to-night is one which in the past, perhaps, has been regarded as being something that should not be spoken about too openly, but one that I think should be spoken about openly so that all may fully understand what the attitude of Australia now is.
I refer to what has been called the White Australia policy. I have noticed lately statements emanating from various groups throughout the country advocating a quota system in Australia. It seems to me, Sir, that the arguments adduced in support of that proposal have not been carefully thought out and that the results which would be likely to follow if the proposal were accepted have not been properly anticipated.
We are told that it would soothe the pride of those who are now kept out of Australia in some degree if a quota system were to be introduced, but surely it is self-evident, even in the minds of those who advocate such a system, that what they are saying is that we should have a quota system for coloured people only. There is no suggestion of a quota system for English people, or for Americans or Canadians. I repeat that it is quite clear that what they mean is a quota system for people of colour only. How any one can claim that that still is not differentiation to the same degree as it ever was is more than I can understand.
I believe there are many people of the countries to our north who would make, and in some cases are making, eminently good Australian citizens and who have a contribution to make to the wealth of this country. But I believe the way in which they should come here is the way in which they are now coming here — that is, that each case should be judged on its merits and that, above all, care should be taken to see that there does not develop in this country, as have developed in other countries, including Great Britain, colonies of people with a skin of different colour from that which we have.
The Australian people can assimilate — and are assimilating — and can be friendly with many Asians who wish to come here and be citizens. But I fear that nothing would be more calculated to inculcate a colour consciousness, which Australia has not got, than for there to be in the cities of this country thousands or even tens of thousands of people of other nationalities living in little groups on their own as they would if they came in under a quota system and if each case was not judged on its merits.
I felt I should say that, while I have the belief I have outlined, that is, that thousands of Asians can and should come here, each case being judged on its own merits, those who carelessly advocate a quota system will do more harm than good to the cause they seek to further.”[1]
The White Australia Policy was effectively eroded by a number of administrative decisions and policy changes which were made over the years; these did not require altering the laws of the Commonwealth, but were simply carried out by decisions made by immigration officials, Ministerial discretion, and implementation of changes in government policy.
References:
[1] Commonwealth of Australia, “Parliamentary Debates: Senate: Official Hansard”, 1959 no. 9, 24 February 1959, p. 146
“John Gorton”, Wikipedia
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