Brass ‘White Australia’ protection badge, 1906

“In 1901, the new federal government passed an Act ending the employment of Pacific Islanders. The Immigration Restriction Act 1901 received royal assent on 23 December 1901. It was described as an Act ‘to place certain restrictions on immigration and to provide for the removal from the Commonwealth of prohibited immigrants’.”

What was the purpose of the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901 in Australia?