The White Australia policy was not ended in a single moment, but it was effectively abolished in 1973 , when the Whitlam Labor government removed the last racially discriminatory provisions from Australia’s immigration law.

Quick Scoop: Key Dates

  • Early dismantling steps occurred from the late 1940s through the 1960s.
  • A major turning point came with immigration reforms and new migration rules in 1966, which applied more equal criteria to non‑European migrants.
  • The final vestiges of the White Australia policy were removed in September 1973 by the Whitlam government, which is why historians usually say the policy ended in 1973.

In short, while the policy was phased out over several decades , the widely accepted answer to “when was the White Australia policy abolished?” is 1973.

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