Key events

• The Government lowered the planned Migration Program to 140,000 from its previous levels of around 170,000, in response to economic pressures

• End of White Australia policy.
• Labor government shifts immigration focus to economic priorities, family re-union and instructed embassies to not apply race-based criteria for migramt selection
• Whitlam Labor government recognised The People’s Republic of China as sole legal government of China

• Citizenship eligibility - All migrants became eligible to obtain citizenship Australian citizenship after three years residency
• Chilean refugees accepted under humanitarian program after Chile revolution against Allende dictatorship

• ‘Credo for a Nation’, A J Grassby

• Migrant intake reduce to 50,000 — smallest planned migrant intake since end of WWII
• The new Labor Government under Whitlam affirms immigration as essential to population policy — guided by humanity, equity, and compassion and by Australia’s capacity to successfully integrate migrants. It also aimed to support a culturally diverse and cohesive society. Example: ‘Australia's Multicultural Society’ booklet, A J Grassby, Commissioner for Community Relations
• Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act 1975 — for all Australians
• Fall of Saigon and end of Vietnam War for Australia and United States

• Migration Program increased to 70,000
• During 1976 and 1977 Australia accepted refugees from 40 countries: Refugees accepted from conflict area of Laos and Cambodia and civil war in Lebanon
• Amnesty was offered and approved for nearly 8,000 visitors who had overstayed their visitor visas at the end of 1975.
• Fishing Boat KG4435, the first refugee boats arrive in Darwin from Vietnam.

• Australia as a Multicultural Society charter — highlighted three main issues; social cohesion, cultural identity, and equality of opportunity and access
• New government Humanitarian policy
• Twenty four boats with Indo-Chinese refugees arrived Evacuees from East Timor, Cyprus and Lebanon accepted under new humanitarian refugee policy.

• Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) established
• Three year immigration plan instead of one Year plan introduced
• The Galbally Review
  

• Orderly Departure Program — Australian and Vietnamese Governments sign agreement on the Orderly Departure Program. The emphasis on family reunion
• Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs established
• Further application of immigration policy without discrimination
• Increased effort was put into detection and deportation of an increasing number of illegal entrants and overstayers
• Australian Refugee Advisory Council established to improve the settlement of refugees
• The Numerical Multifactor Assessment System (NUMAS) introduced with the emphasis on family reunion and occupational and language skills