Confidential

Copy No 29

Cabinet Minute

Canberra, 4th October, 1967

Decision No. 625

Submission No. 478 – Report on Entry and Stay of Non-Europeans.

The Cabinet endorsed the recommendation of the Minister for Immigration that well qualified non-Europeans should be admitted with residence status (in the same way as Europeans) in view of the care taken in their approval and their general quality. The residential qualification for citizenship would remain at five years.

2. Referring more generally to the admission of non-Europeans, the Cabinet:

a. endorsed the view that the number of well qualified non-Europeans permitted to settle in Australia could increase marginally without prejudicing the essentials of Australia's immigration policy;

b. agreed that the Minister should also have discretion to admit each year a limited number of non-Europeans not specifically covered by (a) above, but nevertheless with close regard to their general quality and usefulness and the essential points of policy enumerated in Section 3 of the Submission;

c. accepted that, in this context, admission of non-European school teachers and nurses who comply with Australian standards of training and efficiency should no longer be ruled out;