Australia: Toward Acceptance of Asians

As Minister of Immigration, Harold Holt established a milestone of sorts in 1952 by ruling that Japanese wives of Australian servicemen could enter Australia in spite of the tight restrictions on Asian immigrants. As Prime Minister, Holt last week ordered a re-examination of Australia’s immigration policies with a view to bringing them more in line with the country’s emerging awareness that its destiny really rests in Asia. Already the review has produced one result: a prime-ministerial recommendation reducing the 15-year period that non-European immigrants must wait before becoming eligible for citizenship to five years, the same as for European settlers. Holt also hopes to make it easier for Asian executives and technicians who come to Australia on assignments for their companies to bring their wives and families with them. Commented Sydney’s Morning Herald: “The minor changes that Holt has mentioned will go some way to undo the immense harm caused by the present rigid white-Australia policy.”

Other press comment was equally laudatory.