In the decades following World War II, Australia enjoyed significant increases in living standards, leisure time and suburban development.[113][114] Using the slogan "populate or perish", the nation encouraged a large wave of immigration from across Europe, with such immigrants referred to as "New Australians".[115]
A member of the Western Bloc during the Cold War, Australia participated in the Korean War and the Malayan Emergency during the 1950s and the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1972.[116] During this time, tensions over communist influence in society led to unsuccessful attempts by the Menzies Government to ban the Communist Party of Australia,[117] and a bitter splitting of the Labor Party in 1955.[118]
As a result of a 1967 referendum, the Federal Government received a mandate to implement policies to benefit Aboriginal people, and all Indigenous Australians were included in the Census.[119] Traditional ownership of land ("native title") was recognised in law for the first time when the High Court of Australia held in Mabo v Queensland (No 2) that the legal doctrine of terra nullius ("land belonging to no one") did not apply to Australia at the time of European settlement.[120]
Following the final abolition of the White Australia policy in 1973,[121] Australia's demography and culture transformed as a result of a large and ongoing wave of non-European immigration, mostly from Asia.[122][123] The late 20th century also saw an increasing focus on foreign policy ties with other Pacific Rim nations.[124] While the Australia Act 1986 severed the remaining vestigial constitutional ties between Australia and the United Kingdom,[125] a 1999 referendum resulted in 55% of voters rejecting a proposal to abolish the Monarchy of Australia and become a republic.[126]