Lexi Webster
The Second World War left Australia vulnerable to the threat of invasion. This prompted the Australian government to boost its population to strengthen its defence. The slogan 'populate or perish' was coined to summarise the government's objective to increase the population through immigration. This shift in immigration policy led to the arrival of two million immigrants in Australia between 1945 and 1965, marking the beginning of a new wave of predominantly Asian immigration to Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Slogan | "Populate or perish" |
| Time Period | 1945-1965 |
| Number of Immigrants | 2 million |
| First Minister for Immigration | Arthur Calwell |
| First Non-British Immigrants | From Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania |
| Immigration Targets | 1% increase in population |
| Financial Assistance | £10 passages to British migrants |
| Immigration Policy Change | Acceptance of migrants from Southern and Eastern Europe |
| Temporary Migrants | From the Middle East and Asia |
| Population in 1945 | 7 million |
| Population in 1959 | 10 million |
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What You'll Learn
The slogan helped Australians accept this large intake of migrants
The slogan "populate or perish" was effective in helping Australians accept this large intake of migrants. The slogan was coined by Billy Hughes, the Minister for Health and Repatriation, in the 1930s. Arthur Calwell, Australia's first Minister for Immigration, promoted mass immigration with this slogan.
The Australian government's decision to increase immigration was influenced by the Second World War. The country felt vulnerable and feared invasion by the Japanese Imperial Army, especially during the invasion of Singapore and the bombing of Darwin. The government believed that increasing the population would strengthen Australia's defence and development. This belief was echoed by Prime Minister Joseph Chifley, who approved a recruitment campaign in Europe.
The slogan "populate or perish" reflected the urgency of the situation and justified the need for a larger population. It resonated with Australians, who understood the importance of population growth for the country's future. The slogan was a powerful message that helped to build support for the immigration program and encouraged Australians to embrace the influx of migrants.
The government also implemented policies to make immigration more attractive and accessible. The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, nicknamed the "Ten-Pound Pom" scheme, offered financial assistance to British citizens, encouraging over one million Britons to immigrate. The government also negotiated agreements with other countries, accepted displaced persons, and selected migrants from Europe's camps.
The slogan "populate or perish" played a crucial role in shaping public perception and helped Australians accept the large-scale immigration that transformed their society. It provided a compelling rationale for the government's immigration policies and contributed to the significant demographic changes in Australia's post-war era.
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The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, also known as the 'Ten-Pound Pom' scheme
The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, also known as the Ten-Pound Pom scheme, was initiated by the Australian government in 1945 as part of the "`Populate or Perish` policy." The scheme aimed to attract British citizens to migrate to Australia, offering them a chance to escape the hardships of post-war life in Britain. The slogan "Populate or Perish" reflected the Australian government's urgency to increase the country's population and strengthen its defences.
Under the Ten-Pound Pom scheme, Britons were offered subsidised travel to Australia for a nominal processing fee of £10, along with promises of employment, affordable housing, and a better lifestyle. This scheme proved extremely popular, with over 400,000 British citizens registering by 1947. The Australian government also arranged for their passage on chartered ships and aircraft, with some former troop ships being converted for this purpose.
The migrants, dubbed "Ten Pound Poms," were required to stay in Australia for a minimum of two years. If they chose to return to Britain within this period, they would have to repay the full cost of their passage, which was approximately £120, a significant sum at the time. This condition ensured a level of commitment from the migrants and contributed to the success of the scheme.
The Ten-Pound Pom scheme played a significant role in shaping Australian society and culture. Notable individuals who migrated under this scheme include businessman Alan Bond, musician John Farnham, and actor Nicholas Hope. The scheme also attracted sportspeople such as rugby league player and actor Ian Roberts and cricketers Harold Larwood and Frank Tyson.
The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, or the Ten-Pound Pom scheme, was a pivotal initiative in Australia's postwar migration program. It not only addressed labour shortages but also contributed to the country's social, cultural, and economic development, transforming Australia into a more diverse and vibrant nation.
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The 'Beautiful Balts' from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
In the aftermath of World War II, Australia launched a large-scale immigration program under the slogan "populate or perish". The campaign aimed to increase the number of workers available for defence and development, targeting migrants in Europe. This effort helped shape Australia's multicultural identity, attracting people from diverse backgrounds, including those from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – the three Baltic states.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania: A Shared History
The three Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania share a complex history, having endured occupations and annexations by neighbouring powers throughout their existence. In 1940, the Soviet Union invaded and occupied these countries, forcing their governments into exile. Despite this, Australia maintained its diplomatic stance, refusing to recognise the Soviet annexation. In 1948, when the Soviet Embassy in Canberra declared that Baltic residents in Australia would be registered as Soviet citizens, Prime Minister Ben Chifley responded that Australia did not acknowledge this annexation and that Baltic citizens were under no obligation to comply. This stance was reaffirmed in 1970 by the Minister for External Affairs, William McMahon, who stated that Australia had never withdrawn recognition from the exiled Baltic governments.
Estonian Immigration to Australia
The first Estonians settled in Australia in 1853, and the Estonian community continued to grow over time. In 2005, Australia and Estonia signed a Working Holiday Visas arrangement, facilitating youth mobility between the two countries. Estonia appointed its first ambassador to Australia in 2007, and in 2018, Australia opened its embassy in Estonia, further strengthening bilateral ties.
Latvian and Lithuanian Immigration to Australia
Latvians and Lithuanians seeking to immigrate to Australia today must meet strict requirements, including having an in-demand occupation and undergoing a Positive Skill Assessment. The Australian Department of Home Affairs conducts thorough evaluations, considering factors such as criminal records and health status. For Lithuanians, the eVisitor visa is an option, solely available to EU citizens and processed online within 24 hours. This visa is also available to Latvians, who, along with their families, can pursue various visa pathways to join the Australian community.
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The White Australia Policy
The roots of the White Australia Policy can be traced back to the 1850s, when an influx of Chinese migrant labourers caused alarm among European labourers who feared for their job security and wages. This tension was further aggravated by the introduction of indentured Pacific Islander labour in the north of Australia, which provided a cheap alternative to paying higher wages to white employees. As a result, each colony established its own economic and migration policies, with some excluding anyone of non-British descent.
In the following decades, successive governments gradually dismantled the legal structures of the White Australia Policy, leading to increased immigration from non-white populations. Significant changes occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, with the Holt government removing discrimination against non-white applicants for citizenship in 1966, and the Whitlam government passing the Racial Discrimination Act in 1975, which made racially-based selection criteria for immigration unlawful. Today, Australia is recognised for its cultural diversity, with a significant portion of the population having immigrant backgrounds.
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The one per cent population increase target
The Australian government's decision to increase its immigration program after World War II was driven by the notion of "populate or perish." This slogan, coined by Billy Hughes in the 1930s, reflected the belief that Australia needed a larger population for defence and development. The government aimed for a 1% annual increase in population through immigration, a target that remained in place until the Whitlam government (1972–1975) when immigration numbers were significantly reduced.
The target of a one per cent population increase through immigration was based on the idea that a larger population would strengthen Australia's defence and development capabilities. This was a pressing concern during and after World War II, particularly due to the threat of invasion by the Japanese Imperial Army. The Curtin Government, even during the war, recognised the need to increase Australia's population, with Mr. Curtin stating:
> "We must have more people to develop and defend Australia."
To achieve the one per cent population increase target, the Australian government implemented several measures. They negotiated agreements to accept two million migrants and displaced people from Europe, including from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (known as the "beautiful Balts"), and the Netherlands. The government also offered assisted passages, often at a cost of £10, to one million British migrants, known as the "Ten-Pound Poms" scheme. This scheme was very popular with war-weary British citizens, and by 1947, over 400,000 had registered.
The Australian government also began to look beyond Britain for migrants, marking a shift from their previous limiting migration practices, known as the "White Australia" policy. This shift was influenced by economist Bill Forsyth, who argued that immigration should be linked to the development of urban industry rather than just the rural sector. As a result, Australia started accepting migrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and, from the late 1940s to the early 1950s, carefully selected temporary migrants from the Middle East and Asia.
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Frequently asked questions
Between 1945 and 1965, two million immigrants arrived in Australia, transforming Australian society. This included the first government-sanctioned non-British migrants.
The slogan marked the beginning of a post-war wave of predominantly European immigration that lasted until the 1970s. It also led to the arrival of the last ocean liner migrants in the late 1970s, followed by a new wave of seaborne refugees from East Timor and Indochina.
The Australian government felt that there was an urgent need to 'populate or perish' after the Second World War, particularly due to the threat of invasion from the Japanese Imperial Army. The government wanted to increase its population for the purposes of defence and development.
