What happened
Just after Federation, in 1901, the new parliament passed the Immigration Restriction Act. By imposing a dictation test in a European language, it effectively kept out non-European immigrants.
Background
The policy was backed by almost every party, rooted in hostility to Asian immigrants during the gold rushes and pressure from trade unions, and long served as a basic principle of Australian society.
Consequences
After the Second World War immigration policy was eased in stages, changed markedly from 1966, and by 1973 all race-based restrictions were fully removed, as Australia turned toward multiculturalism.