 In 2011 , 24 @.@ 6 % of Australians were born elsewhere and 43 @.@ 1 % of people had at least one overseas @-@ born parent ; the five largest immigrant groups were those from the United Kingdom , New Zealand , China , India , and Vietnam . Following the abolition of the White Australia policy in 1973 , numerous government initiatives have been established to encourage and promote racial harmony based on a policy of multiculturalism . In 2005 – 06 , more than 131 @,@ 000 people emigrated to Australia , mainly from Asia and Oceania . The migration target for 2012 – 13 is 190 @,@ 000 , compared to 67 @,@ 900 in 1998 – 99 . 
