A landmark decision was made in 1972, when the Whitlam government took power in Australia and officially abolished the White Australia immigration policy that belonged to the last century.
Even after this major change in immigration policy, it just took around two decades earlier for migrants to enter the country from Asian countries.
It is to be highly noted that a group of academics and students from Melbourne University successfully published a manifesto 50 years ago for perfectly getting rid of White Australia in favor of a broader immigration policy.
The Immigration Reform Group members claim that the said paper was greatly influential in contributing towards the end of racist policy within the nation.
It is to be remembered that certain changes were already in the air when the 50-page manifesto "Immigration: Control or Colour Bar?" was successfully published in 1963.
The notorious dictation test that was subjected on the migrants was official abolished.
Under immigration ministerial discretion, few non-Europeans were permitted to enter the nation.
With the support of many major and minor political parties, the White Australia policy that began under the 1901 Immigration Restriction Act remained in practice.
This particular policy was perfectly drafted to keep out all types of migrants from the Asia-Pacific region.
During the post-war expansion in Australia and in the later years, the approach towards migrants were only focused towards England and other European countries and was not towards immigration coming from Asia-Pacific region.
The situation remained unchanged for decades.
There weren't any amendments or improvements in the Australian immigration system to a large extent.
In the 1950s, among university students, the White Australia policy had been a boiling issue.
It was the period when Asian students coming to Australia drastically increased through the Colombo Plan.
These students were offered with scholarship.
According to the statistical report, there were 400 Colombo Plan students at the university in 1958.
They visited Australia under travelling overseas plan, to attend meeting and on foreign exchange plans.
In the Australian society, these students faced hardship of various attitude and behavior towards them.
The Australian community was in favor of the prevailing policy.
Even during the change of mood in the campus, most of the Australians weren't ready to change their personal feel towards this particular policy.
The intellectual basis of the White Australia Policy was investigated by the members of the Immigration Reform Group in order to find an amicable solution to this simmering issue.
They widely suggested an alternative system of migration that is not based on quotas.
The issues related to immigration system were widely discussed in the press and media for decades.
Even some major and minor political parties took up this particular issue but any favorable result wasn't coming immediately.
Later, the former Olympic cyclist Hubert Opperman who was the immigration minister in 1966 made efforts to bring some changes in the Australian immigration system.
In 1970-71, the Australian society witnessed nearly 10,000 Asians entering the nation.
This particular situation and later happening with the nation and in the international arena paved way for the abolishment of the White Australia policy in 1972.