With Asia on track to become home to most of the world's middle class in the next 20 years, this was a moment in history to grasp, said Ms Gillard during the release of the white paper at Sydney's Lowy Institute.

BBC: Australia PM Julia Gillard outlines Asia manifesto

Tom Ying, head of history at Burwood Girls High School in Sydney, grew up as a Chinese child in the white Australia of the 1950s.

ECONOMIST: Learning about the past

Hundreds of devotees in extravagant costumes travel to the carnival on the Elvis Express, a special train service from Sydney, where the morning rush-hour is invigorated by white jumpsuits, aviator sunglasses and black wigs.

BBC: Australia��s annual rock ��n�� roll pilgrimage