FACT BOOK REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS & IMMIGRATION 1 ABOUT THIS BOOK This Fact Book details the history of to assist them with completing the Australia’s immigration policy from activities. Most of the activities will direct Federation to the present day. It also the students to read a certain section of covers the topic of refugees and asylum the fact book before attempting the task. seekers both in an Australian and a global Some of the activities are stand-alone and context. do not require the use of the fact book. There are a range of classroom activities The Curriculum Map details which linked to the Fact Book which have activities are relevant for each year level, been designed to meet the Australian as well as providing a list of additional Curriculum content descriptors in a range activities. The information contained in of learning areas including Geography, this fact book is current and accurate at History, Civics and Citizenship and the time of publication. It is understood English. The activities also extensively that some of the information contained cover the Australian Curriculum General throughout this fact book may change Capabilities and Cross Curriculum and need to be updated as new Priorities. The Fact Book is intended to be information becomes avaliable. used as a reference guide for students, FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland Youth Department Created for the teacher Phone: 07 3010 1073 and with the classroom Email: [email protected] experience in mind, these resources have been WEBSITES designed and developed St Vincent de Paul Society - www.vinnies.org.au by a registered teacher. Vinnies Youth Queensland - www.vinniesyouthqld.org.au 2 CONTENTS WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY .......................................................................................................................................4 IN FOCUS: TYPES OF MIGRATION ............................................................................................................................6 WORLD WAR I ............................................................................................................................................................7 1920S AND 30s ...........................................................................................................................................................7 WORLD WAR II ............................................................................................................................................................8 IN FOCUS: ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES ....................................................................................................10 IN FOCUS: INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT ..................................................................................................................11 POPULATE OR PERISH ............................................................................................................................................12 1950s AND 60s .........................................................................................................................................................14 1970s .........................................................................................................................................................................16 VIETNAM WAR ..........................................................................................................................................................16 IN FOCUS: FAMOUS REFUGEES .............................................................................................................................17 1980s AND 90s .........................................................................................................................................................18 IN FOCUS: PROCESSING CENTRES .......................................................................................................................19 IN FOCUS: CHILDREN IN DETENTION ....................................................................................................................23 2000s .........................................................................................................................................................................24 IN FOCUS: HOW DO ASYLUM SEEKERS ARRIVE IN AUSTRALIA? .......................................................................25 2010 AND BEYOND ..................................................................................................................................................26 IN FOCUS: CLIMATE CHANGE REFUGEES .............................................................................................................27 IN FOCUS: AFRICAN REFUGEE CRISIS ..................................................................................................................28 PRESENT ..................................................................................................................................................................29 IMPACT OF CURRENT POLICY ................................................................................................................................32 IN FOCUS: STATELESSNESS ...................................................................................................................................34 IN FOCUS: REFUGEE POLICIES AROUND THE WORLD ........................................................................................35 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY ..............................................................................................................................36 3 1900 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY IMMIGRATION RESTRICTION ACT The Immigration Restriction Act came into law The test was administered 1,359 times before on the 23rd of December, 1901. It was the first 1909, with only 52 people granted entry to of a collection of policies that came to be known Australia. After 1909, not a single migrant who sat as the ‘White Australia policy’. The purpose of the test passed.5 the act was “to place certain restrictions on The White Australia policy arose in the aftermath Immigration and to provide for the removal from of the gold rushes, which began in 1851. The gold the Commonwealth of prohibited Immigrants.”1 rushes attracted overseas migrants, and by 1861, As stated by Alfred Deakin Fact Box , the aim of 38,258 people (3.3% of Australia’s population at the Act was “the prohibition of all alien coloured the time) had been born in China.6 Australians immigration, and … the deportation or reduction saw this immigration as a negative development, of the number of aliens now in our midst… the believing it would lead to less employment policy of securing a ‘white Australia’.”2 The main opportunities for themselves. During the height of way the Act achieved this was by implementing the gold rush between 1851 and 1860, more than the Dictation Test. 600,000 people arrived in Australia (81 per cent The introduction of the Dictation Test meant that from the United Kingdom, 10 per cent from Europe anyone attempting to migrate to Australia could and seven per cent from China).7 be asked by an immigration officer to “write out PACIFIC ISLAND LABOURERS ACT at dictation and sign in the presence of the officer This Act was designed ‘to Provide for the a passage of fifty words in length in an [sic] Regulation, Restriction and Prohibition of the European language directed by the officer.”3 Introduction of Labourers from the Pacific Islands’ This meant any migrant considered ‘undesirable’ and came into law on the 17th December 1901. by the immigration officer could be ordered to A key part of the ‘White Australia’ policy, this take the test in a language they didn’t know. law led to the deportation of the vast majority They would, of course, fail and be denied entry of the Pacific Islanders in Australia from the end into Australia. The test was extremely effective of 1906.8 The desire to build a culturally and at keeping people out and Alfred Deakin stated ethnically British population was clear from that because of the test, “the alien colored [sic] the beginning. population is being steadily reduced.”4 SOURCE 1.1 - POLITICAL CARTOON ABOUT CHINESE IMMIGRATION 4 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY SOURCE 1.2 - POSTER INTRODUCING THE SOURCE 1.3 - APPLICATION FOR A NATIONAL ‘WHITE AUSTRALIA’ SONG POSTCARD DESIGN SOURCE 1.4 – POLITICAL CARTOON ABOUT THE DICTATION TEST 5 TYPES OF MIGRATION EMIGRATION Emigration is the act of leaving SOCIAL MIGRATION Social migration is when your own country to settle permanently in people move in hopes of a better life or to be another country. closer to family or friends. IMMIGRATION Immigration is the act of moving POLITICAL MIGRATION Political migration permanently to another country. Immigration and occurs when people move to another country in emigration are similar. EMIGRATION is used order to escape political persecution or war. to refer to someone leaving a country, while This is also a form of forced migration. IMMIGRATION is used to refer to someone ENVIRONMENTAL MIGRATION This form of entering a country. For example, if someone migration is when people leave their homes due was leaving Afghanistan to settle in Australia, to changes in the climate or environment that they would be said to be EMIGRATING from adversely affect their living conditions Afghanistan and IMMIGRATING to Australia. FORCED MIGRATION Asylum seekers and