The Immigration Minister of the time, the first ever in Australia, Arthur Calwell sought to deport these refugees, arousing protest from the Australian public.
Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt's decision in 1949 to allow 800 non-European refugees to take up residence in Australia, and Japanese war brides to be admitted, paved the way towards a non-discriminatory immigration policy.
The next major step was in 1957, when non-Europeans with 15 years residence in Australia were allowed to become permanent Australian residents.
The revised Migration Act of 1958 introduced a simpler system of entry permits and abolished the controversial dictation test. The revised Act avoided references to questions of race. Indeed, it was in this context that the Immigration Minister, Sir Alexander Downer, stated that "distinguished and highly qualified Asians" might immigrate.
After a review of the non-European policy in March 1966, Immigration Minister Hubert Opperman announced applications for migration would be accepted from well-qualified people on the basis of their suitability as settlers, their ability to integrate readily and their possession of qualifications positively useful to Australia.
At this time, the Government also decided that a number of non-Europeans, who had been originally admitted as 'temporary residents', but who were not to be required to leave Australia, could become residents and citizens after five years (the same as for Europeans), instead of 15 years as had earlier been required of them.
There was also an easing of restrictions on non-European migrants. The criteria of distinguished and highly qualified' were replaced by the criteria of 'well qualified' non-Europeans and the number of non-Europeans allowed to immigrate would be 'somewhat greater than previously'.
The March 1966 announcement began a period of steady expansion of non-European migration and was the watershed in abolishing the 'White Australia' policy.