II.From White Australia to Multiculturalism In 1947,almost 90%of the population were of British backgrounds.After WWII,the Labour Government introduced a massive programme of assisted migration.The policy was aimed at supportinga large scale expansion of the economy.The aim was to keep Australia 'white and free'. It took another thirty or so years before Australia became less racist and more ethnically egalitarian. Racism was still central to the culture and remained the normal way of life of Australia.The preferred migrant groups were British,followed by other northern,southern and central Europeans and it was expected that the new settlers would assimilate and be easily absorbed into the culture of their host. This period of"assimilation"was not completely successful.In the 1960s the Government began to address the disadvantages by providing supportive programmes that led in 1973 to the policy of Multiculturalism. II. From White Australia to Multiculturalism • In 1947, almost 90% of the population were of British backgrounds. After WWII, the Labour Government introduced a massive programme of assisted migration. The policy was aimed at supporting a large scale expansion of the economy. The aim was to keep Australia ‘white and free’. It took another thirty or so years before Australia became less racist and more ethnically egalitarian. • Racism was still central to the culture and remained the normal way of life of Australia. The preferred migrant groups were British, followed by other northern, southern and central Europeans and it was expected that the new settlers would assimilate and be easily absorbed into the culture of their host. • This period of “assimilation” was not completely successful. In the 1960s the Government began to address the disadvantages by providing supportive programmes that led in 1973 to the policy of Multiculturalism