The White Australia Policy Part 2: The Legacy

With the passing of the Migration Act (Cth) in 1958, most of the laws that made up the White Australia Policy came to an end.

The dictation test that was imposed upon potential migrants that the nation wanted to keep out - and no one had passed since 1909 - was abolished.

With its passing, then immigration minister Alexander Downer indicated that "distinguished and highly qualified Asians" might be permitted entry into the country. And it followed on a 1949 decision to allow 800 non-European refugees to remain here, along with Japanese war brides.

Indeed, this opening up to broader immigration - rather than simply letting in those of British descent - was fuelled by the government's emerging "populate or perish" outlook, which basically meant that under the White Australia Policy the nation was suffering from a workforce shortage.