[June 1947][1]
FOREIGN IMMIGRATION REVISED IMMIGRATION POLICY-1947
Australia having made its contribution to the solution of the problem of the displaced and persecuted peoples of Europe it is recommended that policy in respect of all aliens should be reorientated in the light of recent developments and the need to consider admissions purely from the immigration point of view, i.e. desirable types, rather than from the aspect of humanitarianism.
It is felt that generally the following guiding principles should be applied in determining the classes of persons to be granted permanent admission:
(a) Persons who by reason of their age and nationality and general qualifications would be likely to be readily assimilated.
(b) Persons who are skilled in trades or professions or who are fitted to engage in occupations, e.g. agriculture, hospital workers, in which there is a definite demand for labour.
(c) Persons who by reason of their special professional or technical qualifications could make a material contribution to the economic development of this country.
(d) Persons who could as a general rule be found accommodation without detriment to those already resident in Australia.
In the light of these principles the following revised policy for 1947 is submitted:
(A) United States Citizens No special conditions to apply to United States citizens of European descent.
(B) Citizens of European Continental Countries Persons of European origin may be granted landing permits subject to the following conditions:-
(a) They are skilled in a trade or profession or are deemed suitable for employment in occupations, e.g. farm workers, hospital workers etc. in which there is a shortage of labour and (i) are single persons or, if married, are prepared to come to Australia in the first instance without their wives and families;
and are in possession of at least 50 landing money for initial maintenance; or (ii) if married and they desire to bring their families with them, are in possession of 100 landing money for initial maintenance and can produce evidence that accommodation is available for them and their families in Australia.
(b) Persons who do not come within the classes mentioned in (a) above may be granted landing permits provided they are nominated by persons resident in 1 The document is undated. It was prepared for Calwell’s overseas mission in June.
Australia who are in a position to accept responsibility for their accommodation and maintenance for a period of twelve months and are prepared to furnish guarantees to this effect.
(c) They possess special professional or technical qualifications which would enable them to make a material contribution to the economic development of this country and (i) are single persons or, if married, are prepared to come to Australia in the first instance without their wives and families;
and are in possession of at least 50 landing money for initial maintenance; or (ii) if married and they desire to bring their families with them, are in possession of 100 landing money for initial maintenance and can produce evidence that accommodation is available for their families in Australia.
(d) Persons in the categories indicated below who have been persecuted or displaced by Nazi or Fascist regimes on religious, racial or political grounds may be admitted to Australia under exemption for two years in the first instance provided that they- (i) are skilled in an undermanned trade or profession or are deemed suitable for employment in occupations in which there is a definite shortage of labour and (ii) are nominated by a person resident in Australia for at least 12 months.
In the case of married persons the nominator must be prepared to accept responsibility for the accommodation and maintenance of their nominee for a period of twelve months.
Other persons without nominators in Australia provided they otherwise are eligible under the above conditions and under the general rules will be admitted on personal selection by an immigration officer if single or if married are prepared to come in the first instance without their wives and families.
At the end of the period of their exemption they may be granted permanent admission if still following the occupation for which they were admitted, or other approved occupation, and are otherwise deemed suitable residents.
(e) (i) In the case of Italian nationals who are the wives, unmarried daughters or minor unmarried sons of residents of Australia they are nominated by their husbands or fathers who are suitable guarantors and in a position to maintain and accept responsibility for the accommodation of their nominees.
(ii) Applications by residents of Australia for the admission of Italian nationals who do not come within the classes set out in (i) may be considered on their individual merits subject to the production of satisfactory evidence that the nominees became co- belligerents or did not continue to oppose the allied forces after the surrender of Italy.
(iii) Applications by residents of Australia for the re-entry of Italian nationals who were previously in Australia as prisoners of war or internees may be considered on their merits provided that the nominees will be employed by the nominators in agricultural work without detriment to agricultural workers in Australia, there is no Security objection to their re-admission and the nominators are in a position to employ and provide accommodation for their nominees.
(f) (i) In the case of persons who are nationals or former nationals of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Roumania and Bulgaria but do not come within the classes mentioned in (d), and are the wives, unmarried daughters and unmarried minor sons of residents of Australia, they may be granted landing permits provided that the husband or father is a suitable guarantor and in a position to maintain and accept responsibility for the accommodation of his nominees.
(ii) Nominations by persons resident in Australia for the admission of relatives outside the classes mentioned in (i) or other relatives or friends are to be deferred until 31st December, 1947, except in the case of nominees with special qualifications.
(C) Citizens of certain Non-European Countries Persons of Asiatic origin who are Lebanese, Syrians, Turks and Armenians and persons of Egyptian nationality of Lebanese, Syrian, Turkish or Armenian origin may be granted landing permits, provided they are nominated by persons resident in Australia who are in a position to accept responsibility for the maintenance and accommodation of their nominees and furnish guarantees to that effect.
The following general rules should be applied in the consideration of all applications for admission to Australia:
(a) Although the policy laid down is to be accepted for general guidance, each case will be considered on its individual merits.
(b) Any exceptions on compassionate grounds or in view of special circumstances, to the limits imposed under the policy outlined in the preceding paragraphs to be subject to Ministerial approval.
(c) In cases where accommodation guarantees arc required it is the intention that the provision of such accommodation will generally be in the homes of the nominators and that in any event will not entail the displacement of any existing Australian occupant or result in unoccupied accommodation being reserved pending the arrival of the nominees.
(d) The usual conditions in regard to character and health to apply to all persons.
(e) The following maximum age limits should be followed generally but the application of such limits should be flexible and shall have regard to relevant circumstances- Single Males 45 Single Women 35 Married persons with children 50 (f) Special consideration should be given in cases where approval would provide for reunions of wives and unmarried children with their husbands and fathers, except in such cases of admission of former enemy aliens who desire to join wives and children in this country. Any cases of this nature to be reserved for Ministerial approval.
(g) Fiancees to be treated in the same category as wives provided that the fiance furnishes a bond of 100 that marriage will take place within three months from the date of the fiiancee’s arrival in Australia.
(h) Where applicable, suitable evidence is to be furnished that the persons desiring admission to Australia are in possession of satisfactory qualifications for the trade or profession in which they claim proficiency.
(i) The above policy to apply to all applications held in the Department at the time of and received subsequent to the date of the Minister’s approval of the Council recommendation.
Approved by the Minister on 29th April, 1947, subject to applications received prior to 31st December, 1946, being dealt with under interim policy and further that the provisions of clause B(e)(iii) are not to be implemented at this stage.
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[AA : A1821/1, BUNDLE 1]