This anti-immigration cartoon was published about seven weeks after
Australia became a Federation of States. It reflects the widely-held fear
that non-white immigrants would bring with them a willingness to work for
lower wages than white Australians were used to earning, and would lower
the general standard of living and change the Australian lifestyle for ever.
At this time, under the new Commonwealth, legislation was being drawn up
to prevent non-whites from entering the country, and to send Kanaka
labourers in the Queensland sugar fields back where they came from.
This was the beginning of the 'White Australia' policy. |
