Asian and Australia’s
Engagement with Asia
“If
Australians have learned one lesson from the Pacific war now moving to a
successful conclusion, it is surely that we cannot continue to hold our island
continent for ourselves and our descendants unless we greatly increase our
numbers. We are but 7,000,000 people and we hold 3,000,000 square miles of this
earth’s surface…
It would be prudent for us, therefore,
not to ignore the possibility of a further formidable challenge within the nest
quarter of a century to our right to hold this land. We may have only those
nest 25 years in which to make the best possible use of our second chance to
survive. Our first requirement is additional population. We need it for reasons
of defense and for the fullest expansion of our economy. We can increase our
7,000,000 by an increased birth rate and by policy of planned immigration
within the limits of our existing legislation…” (Calwell, 1945 cited in Leo, 2013).
This
typifies fear of Asian immigration to Australia that has been present
throughout Australian history. Their fears were that Australia would become “Asianised” and would
therefore lose its supposedly superior British characters and Australia was at
risk of being invaded by Asian countries as the size of the population in Asia
is huge compared with the number of people in Australia (Red Apple Education,
2013). Asian in Australia were and are still being accused of depriving white
Australian of jobs as they are willing to work for lower wages. These fears
lead in making the White Australia policy
in 1901; however, the origin of the White Australia Policy can be traced to the
Gold
Rush Era in the 1850s (Department of Immigration and Citizenship, 2009).
The Labor Government removed race as a
factor in Australia’s Immigrations provision in 1973 (ABC, 2013). However,
there was still much prejudice in Australian society about the immigration of
Asians. There were still substantial differences in immigration regulations for
white and non-white people (McMaster, 2002). While Australia is called
multicultural society, these fears still
lurk beneath the surface.
It is important for Australian society to be
educated in the understanding of Asian peoples, cultures and beliefs and also the
long history of their immigration to Australia and appreciate what they
contributed to the development of Australia’s culture and society (Australian
Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2011). Understanding the contributions
of Asian migrants to Australian society will help Australians to change
their way of thinking about Asian immigration as invasion to enrichment of
society.
(Nicholson cited in Leo, 2013)
This cartoon illustrates the
attitudes of Australian towards Asian people. Australia is blessed with an
abundance of space and natural resources while many Asian countries are over
populated and many of their citizens have fewer advantages than the average
Australian house pet. It is selfish to ignore the plight of people who come to
take shelter in this land. Australia’s historical of failures with their
engagement with Asia should not dictate the future of Australia engagement with
Asia (Timmer, 2008).
Reference
Department
of Immigration and Citizenship. (2009). Abolition of the White Australia’
policy. Retrieved 25 May 2013 from http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-
sheets/08abolition.htm
Leo, R. (2013). The immigration question [PDF file]. CR181 lecture, Christian
Heritage Collage. Retrieved 25 May
2013 from http://chc.moodle.com.au/
pluginfile.php/38036/mod_folder/content/0/Lecture%20%2312%20-
%20The%20Immigration%20Question.pdf?forcedownload=1
McMaster, D. (2002). White Australia to detention: restriction
and racism. Retrieved
25 May 2013 from http://motspluriels.arts.uwa.edu.au/MP2102dm.html
Red
Apple Education. (2013). Before White
Australia. Retrieved 25 May 2013 from
http://www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-14_u-112_t-300_c-1012/asian-
immigration/nsw/asian-immigration/changing-rights-and-freedoms-
migrants/changing-migration-1945-2000
Timmer,
M. Overpopulation in Asia. Retrieved
25 May 2013 from
http://www.overpopulation-in-asia.com/
