4102.0 - Australian Social Trends, 1997
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/06/1997
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Composition: Changing links with Europe
Europeans in Australia The vast majority of the convicts who arrived in 1788, and of the soldiers who commanded them, were of British origin. The gold rushes in the 1850s and 1860s first brought people from a variety of cultural backgrounds into Australia. However, fears of invasion from Asia and a belief that people from different cultural backgrounds could not live together in one country, fuelled a move towards restricting settlers to people from Britain2. The White Australia Policy (including The Immigration Restriction Act 1901, The Pacific Islanders Labourers Act 1901 and The Naturalisation Act 1903) was a policy of restricting immigration including a dictation test in any European language chosen by the administering officer2. This policy continued in practice until well after World War II. Through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s a number of different European countries contributed, in turn, to Australian settler numbers. Australia began taking settlers first from Northern Europe and later from Southern Europe. By the 1960s small numbers of Asian immigrants were also entering Australia. However it was not until 1973 that the White Australia Policy completely disappeared from Australia.
Settler arrivals In 1995, 28% of settlers arriving in Australia had been born in Europe. The single largest source country for settlers, remained the United Kingdom and Ireland (13%). The other European countries from which Australia received more than 1,000 settlers in 1995, were the countries of the Former Yugoslav Republics (particularly Bosnia-Herzegovina) and the countries of the Former United Soviet Socialist Republic. The United Kingdom and Ireland has been the largest source of settlers throughout this century. In 1925, 78% of settlers to Australia were British nationals4. In the pre-World War II period (1925-1939), the proportion of settlers who were British nationals averaged 71%. By the late 1940s the proportion had dropped to below half. However it was not until the mid 1970s that the proportion of settlers who were from the United Kingdom and Ireland began to fall dramatically, from 44% in 1974 to 13% in 1995. The proportion of settlers who were from other European countries was low in the period between the World Wars but peaked in 1960 at 60%. In the same year the proportion from the United Kingdom and Ireland had dropped to its lowest point until 1976, at 31%. Many long-term visitor arrivals to Australia become settlers. In 1995, as in 1986, 19% of all long-term visitor arrivals to Australia, had been born in Europe, mainly the United Kingdom and Ireland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. COUNTRIES OF BIRTH OF SETTLER ARRIVALS (a) Includes Cyprus as part of Europe since 1986. Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (cat. no. 3401.0 and unpublished data). COUNTRIES OF BIRTH OF SETTLER ARRIVALS
(b) Includes other countries of birth. Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures (unpublished data). Overseas-born Australians In 1995, 58% of overseas-born Australians had been born in a European country, over half of these in the United Kingdom or Ireland. However the proportion born in the United Kingdom and Ireland dropped from 79% in 1901 to 29% in 1995. In 1901 the other important European country of birth was Germany (4%). By 1947 the proportion had dropped to 2%. It increased to 5% again during the 1950s and 1960s before dropping to 3% by 1995. Italy provided a substantial proportion of the overseas-born population, particularly in the second half of the century. In 1966, 13% of overseas-born Australians had been born in Italy. However by 1995, this had halved to 6% of the overseas-born population. SELECTED COUNTRIES OF BIRTH OF OVERSEAS-BORN AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS
(b) Includes other countries of birth. Source: Census of Population and Housing (1901-1986) (unpublished data), Estimated Residential Population (1995p) (unpublished data). Emigration Some settlers emigrate from Australia after living here for a period of years. In 1972, emigration of European-born settlers peaked at 26,400. This was three years after immigration from Europe peaked at 145,400 settlers. In 1995, 4,900 European-born settlers left Australia. This reflects the lower numbers of European immigrants in 1992, 1993 and 1994 (see Australian Social Trends 1994, Emigration). There is no direct measure of the proportion of new settlers who emigrate within a year of their arrival. An approximation can be obtained by comparing the number of immigrants who arrived in one year with the number of emigrants departing in the same year, who stated that they had been in Australia for less than one year. Of the major birthplace groups in 1995, the largest ratio of former settlers emigrating within the same year, came from the United Kingdom and Ireland (24 for every 1,000 settlers). This compares to 8 of every 1,000 other Europeans. Some emigrants spend most of their working lives (paying taxes) in Australia then return to their country of birth, or another country, after retirement. In 1995, 34% of the European settlers leaving Australia had lived here for 20 years or more. PERMANENT ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES OF EUROPEAN-BORN SETTLERS Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures (unpublished data). Overseas pensions Australia pays full or partial pensions to many former Australian residents overseas, particularly in Europe, under shared responsibility agreements. In 1996, 40,800 (86% of all pensions paid overseas) were paid to European residents; 14,900 (32%) were paid to Italian residents and 8,200 (17%) were paid to Greek residents. The majority (88%) of pensions paid to European residents were age or disability support pensions. Data relating to overseas pensions do not identify all Australians receiving pensions overseas, as some countries, such as New Zealand and the United Kingdom, have host country agreements with Australia to pay pensions to Australian former residents, while Australia pays pensions to their former residents living in Australia. These agreements do not include portability arrangements for some Australian residents who qualify for a pension in Australia and subsequently migrate to another country, taking their pension with them. DISTRIBUTION OF AUSTRALIAN PENSIONS TO OVERSEAS RESIDENTS, JUNE 1996 Source: Department of Social Security, DSS Customers: A Statistical Overview, 1996. Europeans visiting Australia Although the number of permanent settlers from Europe has dropped markedly since the highs earlier this century, the number of Europeans visiting Australia has increased. In 1995, 752,000 short-term visitors arrived from Europe, over twice the number (347,000) in 1986. However most short-term visitors to Australia came from Asia (1.9 million in 1995). Thus while the number of European visits has increased, their proportion of all visits has declined over the last decade (from 24% to 20%). People travelling to and from Australia are asked to give the main reason for their trip. In 1995 almost half (49%) of all European visitors came to Australia for a holiday and 34% came to visit family or friends. Most of the remainder (11% of all European visitors), came for business or employment purposes. This pattern has changed since 1986, when there were proportionally fewer visitors coming to Australia for a holiday. Between 1986 and 1995 the number of European visitors coming to Australia for a holiday nearly tripled, while the number coming to visit family or friends almost doubled. Source countries of short-term visitors from Europe varied somewhat from those of permanent settlers. Approximately half of both settlers and visitors from Europe were from the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1995. However, 17% of short-term visitors were from Germany and 5% were from each of Italy, Switzerland, France and the Netherlands. In 1995, the United Kingdom and Ireland were the only countries in Europe from where more visitors came to visit relatives and friends (46%) than for a holiday (39%). In comparison, 73% of Swiss visitors and 71% of German visitors came for a holiday. 18% of French visitors came for business or employment reasons compared to an average of 11% for all European visitors. However, of all European visitors who came for business or employment reasons, 44% came from the United Kingdom and Ireland and 12% came from Germany. REASONS FOR SHORT-TERM VISITS TO AUSTRALIA BY EUROPEANS, 1995
(b) Includes other reasons. Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures (unpublished data). PROPORTION OF SHORT-TERM OVERSEAS VISITS TO AND FROM AUSTRALIA Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures (unpublished data). Australians visiting Europe As for the number of European visitors to Australia, the number of Australians visiting Europe has also increased. Between 1986 and 1995 visitor numbers grew by 37%, from 397,000 to 544,000. In comparison, 939,000 Australians visited Asia in 1995, up from 497,000 in 1986. As a proportion of all departures, trips to Europe declined from 26% to 22%. In 1995 most Australians visiting Europe did so for a holiday (44%) or to visit family or friends (35%). 16% travelled for business or employment purposes. This pattern was similar in 1986 but the increase in the number of Australians visiting Europe for a holiday has not been as high as the increase in the number of Europeans visiting Australia for a holiday. Australians going to Europe for business or employment reasons increased from 46,900 in 1986 to 89,400 in 1995. The number of Europeans coming to Australia for short-term business trips also increased over the period, from 53,800 to 85,900. The main destination of Australian visitors to Europe was the United Kingdom and Ireland. 52% of all Australians visiting Europe went to these countries in 1995. A further 9% went to Italy and 6% went to Greece and Germany. Around half of the visitors to the United Kingdom and Ireland, Greece, Italy and France were for holidays. In comparison, one quarter of visitors to Germany were for holidays, 33% were for business or employment purposes and 36% were to visit friends and relatives. REASONS FOR SHORT-TERM VISITS TO AUSTRALIA BY EUROPEANS (a) Includes visits for conferences and conventions. Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures (unpublished data). REASONS FOR SHORT-TERM VISITS TO EUROPE BY AUSTRALIANS (a) Includes visits for conferences and conventions. Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures (unpublished data). Investment with Europe The changes in Australia's relationship with Europe can be measured not only in the number of people moving between Australia and Europe, but also in the levels of trade and investment between Australia and Europe. At 30 June 1995, Australia had $141.2 billion invested overseas, 36% of that in Europe. At the same time, European investment in Australia made up 30% of total overseas investment in Australia. The respective proportions were much the same in 1990. Thus in terms of investment our overall relationship with Europe has changed very little in the last five years. In 1995, the United Kingdom accounted for 19% of investment in Australia and 20% of Australian investment overseas. The only country in which Australian investment overseas was greater (and whose investment in Australia was also greater) was the United States of America. The European country with the highest investment in Australia other than the United Kingdom, was the Netherlands. In 1995, 3% of investment in Australia was from the Netherlands. AUSTRALIA'S INVESTMENT POSITION AT 30 JUNE 1995
Trade with Europe Overall, the proportion of Australia's trade with Europe throughout the last decade has declined slightly. In relative terms, our exports to the European Union have dropped from a peak of 16% of total exports in 1986-87 to 11% in 1995-96. Our imports from the European Union have also dropped from 27% of total imports in 1985-86 to a low of 22% in 1992-93 before rising again to 25% in 1995-96. The balance of trade between Australia and the European Union has grown more in favour of the European Union as the gap between imports and exports has increased. The United Kingdom continues to be an important trading partner, receiving 4% of our exports, while 6% of our imports came from there in 1995-96. A further 6% of our imports came from Germany. While the balance of trade remains in favour of the United Kingdom, the gap between imports and exports has narrowed over the decade. TRADE WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION Source: International Merchandise Trade, Australia (cat. no. 5422.0). TRADE WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM Source: International Merchandise Trade, Australia (cat. no. 5422.0). Endnotes 1 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) 1996, Australia's Trade with the European Union 1995, DFAT, Canberra. 2 Jupp, J. (ed.) 1988, The Australian People, for the Australian Bicentennial Authority, Angus and Robertson. 3 Eurostat 1989, Europe in Figures, 2nd edition, Eurostat, Brussels–Luxembourg. 4 British nationals were not necessarily born in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Some may have been born in Commonwealth countries (other than Australia), such as New Zealand. Prior to 1959 nationality, not country of birth, was recorded for immigrants to Australia.
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