THREAD: Broome was the only place to have an exemption from the White Australia Policy.

The Immigration Restriction Act of 1901 was one of the first laws passed by the newly federated Australia, it was the bedrock of what would become the White Australia Policy.

By the time the policy began, the pearling industry of Broome was already heavily dependent on Asian migrant workers. The pearling industry lobbied for exemptions to be given, and the government obliged.

The pearling industry in Broome survived on an indentured labour system, where Pearl Masters would employ forigen workers on low wages for three year contracts.

The work was long, difficult and dangerous and their whole lives were tightly controlled. The practice of indentured labour continued in the pearling industry in various forms untill the 1970s.

In 1912, the Commonwealth announced that there would be no more exemptions for Asian migrants to Broome and a group of European divers arrived in Broome in an attempt to "reclaim" the pearling industry for white people.

It became known as the 'white experiment' and it was a complete failure. Within 18 months, all 12 men had either left Broome or died of decompression sickness. The government decided to continue the exemptions to the White Australia Policy for Broome.