The Immigration Restriction Act: A Historical Analysis and Report

This report analyzes the Immigration Restriction Act, a pivotal piece of legislation in early 20th-century Australia aimed at restricting non-European immigration. It details the Act's mechanisms, including the Dictation Test, and its impact on Chinese and Pacific Islander communities. The report examines the Pacific Islander Labourers Act and provides examples of how the policies affected individuals, including those who faced detention and deportation. It highlights the Clan Ranald Tragedy as a significant consequence of the White Australia Policy, emphasizing its effects on human lives and the intersection of immigration and maritime history. The report includes a discussion of the Dictation Test, certificates of exemption and the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. The report uses examples to highlight the experiences of those affected by the policies, along with relevant references.

Running head: HISTORY ESSAY
HISTORY ESSAY
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1HISTORY ESSAY
The Immigration Restriction Act
The Immigration Restriction Act is the main section of an array of regulation accepted by
the updated Federal Parliament in the early phase of 1900s, purposed to exclude entire section of
non-European migrants. The mechanism limiting colonization could not be explicitly based on
ethnic backgrounds, since it was refuted by Britain and disregarded by Britain’s confederate,
Japan. Rather the foundation relied on knowledge evaluated by Dictation test. The new federal
Immigration Restriction Act, which had been introduced from the beginning of 1902, offered
exceptions for the ones who had previously been domiciled in the Commonwealth or in any
colony which had emerged as state (Moran, 2015). It has been noted that Australian birth and
naturalisation certificates can be utilized as evidence of such residence, while exemption
certificates had also been issued.
Pacific Islander Labourers Act
On the other hand, the Queensland government along with immigrants and the Islanders
emphasized on issues regarding the Pacific Islander Labourers Act. As per reports, in 1902,
South Sea Islanders in Queensland submitted a petition to the King in order to dispute against the
compulsory deportation (Marczuk, 2017). Furthermore, another petition was submitted in 1906
to Prime Minster Deakin appealing for the reconsideration of compulsory exile. One positive
outcome produced from this petition was the liberalization of the exemption groupings.
Dictation Test
Furthermore, the new feature of the Act had been recognized as the Dictation Test. The
Dictation Test functional to every section of non-European individuals inflowing Australia
between 1901 and 1958. The application was necessitated to inscribe 50 verses in any European

2HISTORY ESSAY
linguistic verbalized by a migration executive. It has been noted that Certificates of Exemption
as of the Dictation test had been obtainable to the non-European Australian inhabitants willing to
portable out of the country provisionally and to non-European companies entering Australia
provisionally for employment services, education or only to visit (Moran, 2015). Although, the
Dictation Test had been eradicated in 1958, indicating to the conclusion of the White Australia
Policy, Racial Discrimination Act 1975 had been passed.
Chinese Affected by policies
Example 1
If an individual was Chinese Australian, or born in Australia had to apply for
documentation which would permit him or her to return to Australia without undergoing
dictation test.
Documentation for William Perera
Source: Heanue, (2017)
Australian Affected by policies
Example 2

3HISTORY ESSAY
On the other hand, Protectionist representative, James Hume Cook, had demanded for the
protection of the Australian country as well as for the moral of her home existence.
Australian Immigrants Affected by policies
Example 3
Egon Kisch, journalist and communist and born of Jewish parents had faced detention and
charge for being an immigrant and failing the dictation test. As per reports, he had been
convicted by the Court of Petty Sessions as well as penalized to the extreme penalty of six
months hard labour (Atkinson, 2015).
White Australia policy impact on Clan Ranald
The Clan Ranald Tragedy has been identified as a powerful reminder of the impact of the
White Australia Policy. According to authors, this policy led to the intersection of immigration
and maritime account in addition to the effects of government legislation on human lives
(Heanue, 2017).

4HISTORY ESSAY
References
Atkinson, D. C. (2015). The White Australia Policy, the British Empire, and the World. Britain
and the World, 8(2), 204-224.
Heanue, S. (2017). White Australia Policy: Documents reveal personal stories of life under
Immigration Restriction Act. Retrieved from:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-04/white-australia-policy-project-transcribes-
history/8868680
Marczuk, K. P. (2017). Origins of Immigration to Australia, 1787-1914. Arhivele Olteniei, 31,
39-50.
Moran, A. (2015). Australia, White Australia Policy. The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Race,
Ethnicity, and Nationalism, 1-4.