Summary

Pamphlet entitled 'Why Does White Australia Matter?', published by the Victorian Association for Immigration Reform, Melbourne, circa 1968. It is one of three duplicate copies which make the case for the end of the White Australia policy and expound the arguments laid out in the the Immigration Reform Group's seminal work 'Immigration Control or Colour Bar?' published in 1960. The pamphlet features an evocative cartoon of a martian standing in front of two men with black and white skin asking 'Now tell me again! What's the Difference?' The Association had branches in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and the ACT.

One of a collection of 13 books, booklets and pamphlets produced during a key period in the history of post World War II immigration policy reform. The material represents the Immigration Reform Group, the Victorian Association for Immigration Reform, the Federal Department of Immigration and UNESCO. The donor was an active member of the Immigration Reform Group.

Physical Description

8 page pamphlet, white with black print and cartoon illustration on front cover.

Significance

Statement of Historical Significance:
This collection documents the movement which advocated for the end of the White Australia policy and the evolution of multiculturalism by key groups such as the Immigration Reform Group which formed at the University of Melbourne during the 1950s. The Museum holds a growing collection of material relating to the evolution of Australian immigration policy, documenting the case made for ending the White Australia Policy from the 1950s and the evolution of multiculturalism as one of the central social policies from the 1970s.

More Information