Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Maranoa for putting this motion on the agenda today. I also recognise the 10 soldiers, some posthumously, who were recently presented with military awards by the Governor-General for their actions at the Battle of Long Tan. Today I acknowledge the bravery of those who fought in all the conflicts of Vietnam, and I also acknowledge that this year we mark the 50th anniversary of Long Tan. Earlier this year, it was my privilege and, indeed, an honour to be invited to Cockscomb veterans retreat at Cawarral, near Yeppoon, to mark this anniversary.

In 1987, the then Prime Minister Bob Hawke declared Long Tan Day on 18 August as Vietnam Veterans Day. However, he did not have that date gazetted as a military historic day. Fifty years on from the Battle of Long Tan, it is now time that the Commonwealth government got on with the job of officially gazetting a day to mark Vietnam veterans day.

I have approached the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and have been making contact with various Vietnam veterans groups to gain their input to help determine which would be the most appropriate day to gazette to recognise an annual Vietnam veterans day. I will continue to stay in touch with the minister to provide him with the views of those who I speak with. Indeed, it will be a privilege to welcome the Minister for Veterans' Affairs soon on his trip to Capricornia, including the Cockscomb retreat, the Emu Park RSL war memorial and the Yeppoon RSL Club, next month.

Meanwhile, as we reflect today on those events, to those who specifically served their country in the controversial Vietnam War: your country owes you a thankyou. Thank you for doing your job as armed service men and women. Thank you for risking your lives. Thank you for looking out for your mates on the battlefield, and thank you for being here with us today.

Vietnam was the longest war Australia has participated in, from 1962 to 1973, and the Battle of Long Tan was one of the historic battles that epitomise the courage and grit that Aussie diggers are made of. Fifty years ago, in the Long Tan rubber plantation, about 105 Aussies and a few New Zealanders began to engage with the enemy, which outnumbered them by somewhere between 1,500 and 2,500 Vietcong soldiers. They battled it out until they were finally joined by reinforcements. Fifty years on, we salute and commemorate their bravery.

All wars carry great trauma, but the soldiers who served in Vietnam under Australian government policy of the 1960s and 1970s arguably had one of the greatest traumas inflicted upon them on their return home. History well shows that the Vietnam vets were mistreated, abused and even spat upon when they arrived home in Australia. Again I say to our Vietnam vets: it was not your fault that your government of the day ordered you to Vietnam. It was not your fault that the Australian policy of the day was to align with the United States presence in Vietnam. And it was not your fault that you experienced atrocities that would haunt you for the rest of your lives. The way that you were mistreated on your return home should go down as one of the most disgraceful acts by Australian citizens against fellow citizens in our modern history, and I am sorry that you experienced that adversity and hurt.

Finally, on the 50th anniversary year to mark Long Tan, let us reflect on those who did not make it back or have since passed away. May they rest in peace. Lest we forget.

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