Answer 1:

Many argue that it was due to pressures from the United Nations, who fought for Human Rights regardless of the people's religious views, cultural background or where they live, that this 'slack' application of the White Australia Policy had occurred. After the way Hitler treated the Jewish community, Australia could see that in some ways it draws comparisons, and so the abolishment of the White Australia Policy begun in order to 'keep up with the times'. Australia didn't want to be seen as a 'nasty' country, after all, it had made an identity for itself as being a country that prided itself on giving everyone a 'fair go', and incorporated the notion of 'mateship' in everyday situations.

Answer 2:

There is an interesting story behind the White Australia policy. There was never actually any such thing. Can you imagine the position Australian politicians would put them selves in political circles especially in black countries if they blatantly discriminated on the grounds of colour. So the white Australia policy was based on a literacy test. If you were not of western European descent or if you were not wanted for some other reason by the migration authoritys you would have to sit a literary test in a language that was the choice of the imigration department. So even if you were a highly educated professor that spoke several languages including English if you could not pass the test in a language (chosen by the migration department) you were denied access into Australia on lack of educational grounds. After WW2 many Australia was desperate for people to be a part of expanded infrastructure. Many of them came fro the fringes of what was formerly seen as colored blood by the largely British back-grounded Australians and as they increased in number so did their political clout. The fact that the world was changing as well with the extremely racist colonial powers finally losing more of their clout and making the attitude that Australia had toward race continually less acceptable. Remember it was not until wel into the 1960's that aboriginals of Australia were considered more then fauna.

Answer 3

The White Australia Policy was established in 1901 with the coming of Federation, and officially ended in 1973 due to the intervention of the Whitlam Government. The Policy deliberately restricted non-European migration, as there was a fear of the "unknown" Asian people and their way of life. The Government felt that the introduction of Oriental influences into Australian society would endanger Australia (the 1950s threat of Communism *coughcoughChina* heightened these fears) and therefore it was stopped.

The other Government policy of assimilation was epic failing, and due to pressure from society as well as the Vietnam War the White Australia Policy was abolished. People felt that as Australia was a democracy, and free speech was a basic right, freedom of religion and culture should also be important too. The public put pressure on the Government, especially when Indochinese refugees began to arrive during the Vietnam War. Thousands sought refuge for fear of political persecution, and even death, and Australia was a common choice for people to start a new life. It was thought to be unfair to turn people away from Australia, especially when they may have been deported back to their home country to face detrimental circumstances.

In conjunction with the abolition of the White Australia Policy came the introduction of the Multiculturalism Policy, which allowed people to hang on to their own culture, customs, beliefs and way of life. Multiculturalism offered the freedom and change that the White Australia and Assimilation Policies could not, and this benefited Australia as it meant racial acceptance and diversity. It also prevented the formation of a "monoculture", which ultimately would have occurred if the Policy were not abandoned.

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