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Postwar immigration drive

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Summary

This article discusses the Australian government's immigration policy in the wake of the Second World War. The policy was based on the notion of ‘populate or perish’ and led to the influx of two million immigrants between 1945 and 1965. Arthur Calwell, Australia's first Minister for Immigration, opened the door to migrants from beyond the British Isles, and a target of a one per cent increase in the population as the result of immigration was set. The policy led to the growth of Australia's population to about 10.3 million by 1960.

Q&As

What was the Australian Government's postwar immigration drive based on?
The Australian Government's postwar immigration drive was based on the notion of ‘populate or perish’ that emerged in the wake of the Second World War.

Who was appointed Australia's first Minister for Immigration?
Arthur Calwell was appointed Australia's first Minister for Immigration in July 1945.

What were the arguments of economist WD 'Bill' Forsyth in his book 'The Myth of Open Spaces'?
In his 1942 book The Myth of Open Spaces, Forsyth argued that immigration and settlement should not be linked to the development of the rural sector, as had been the case after the First World War, but to the development of urban industry. He further argued that, while postwar workforce shortages in Great Britain could limit Australia’s ability to attract British migrants, there would be reserves of labour in eastern and southern Europe.

What was the 'Ten-Pound Pom' scheme?
The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme (also known as the ‘Ten-Pound Pom’ scheme) was a migration scheme that proved extremely popular with war-weary British citizens.

What was the average population growth rate of Australia from 1946 to 1960?
The average population growth rate of Australia from 1946 to 1960 was 2.7 per cent per year.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides a great overview of the postwar immigration drive, including the motivations behind it and the consequences that followed. It is a great resource for anyone wanting to learn more about this important period in Australia's history.

👎 This article contains a large amount of information, which can be overwhelming for readers who are just getting started with learning about this topic. Additionally, some of the language used is quite technical and difficult to understand.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the post-war immigration drive in Australia and the impact it had on the country. It discusses how the Australian Government opened the nation to non-British migrants after the Second World War, and how this influx of people transformed Australian society.

Friend: Wow, that's really interesting. What are the implications of this article?

Me: The article has a few implications. Firstly, it highlights the importance of immigration in Australia's post-war population growth and development. Secondly, it suggests that the White Australia policy was slowly being abandoned, with the government accepting migrants from beyond the British Isles. Finally, it shows how the government's immigration policies changed over time to allow more migrants from different parts of the world, which ultimately changed the face of Australia.

Action items

Visit the National Museum of Australia to learn more about postwar immigration and its impact on Australian society.
Research the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme and the White Australia policy to gain a better understanding of the history of immigration in Australia.
Read the book Destination Australia: Migration to Australia since 1901 to gain a deeper insight into the history of immigration in Australia.

Technical terms

Postwar: Refers to the period of time after the end of World War II.
Immigration Drive: A campaign to encourage people to migrate to a particular country.
Populate or Perish: A phrase used to describe the need for a country to increase its population in order to survive.
White Australia Policy: A policy that restricted non-European immigration to Australia.
Assisted Passage Migration Scheme: A scheme that allowed people to migrate to Australia for a reduced fee.
Displaced Persons Camps: Refugee camps set up after World War II to house people who had been displaced by the war.
Baby Boom: A period of time in which there is a large increase in the birth rate.