Dai Le (Fowler, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I want to talk about something that sits in the heart of the committee in Fowler, the 50th anniversary of Vietnamese settlement in Australia. There is no place where this story is more alive than in my electorate of Fowler, the heart of the Vietnamese Australian story. Just as we heard from the member for Hotham, the amazing Vietnamese contribution to rebuilding and building Australia has to be acknowledged. In my electorate, 18.9 per cent of residents identify with Vietnamese ancestry.

The significance of this milestone is never lost on me, a Vietnamese refugee who has the immense honour of serving as the first Vietnamese Australian federal member of parliament and re-elected to my second term as an independent in what was once Labor's heartland.

My own journey is a testament to the enduring promise of this nation. April this year marks 50 years since the fall of Saigon, a moment that began the journey of Vietnamese settlement in Australia. That date in April 1975 started my four-year odyssey journey. Like millions of others, my family became boat people facing the terror of the South China Sea. I still vividly remember boarding the escape with my mother and sisters. My mother was a typical Vietnamese mother: firm and never wanting to show emotion. She passed away two years ago. Her courage to make that journey is the reason I stand here today, and I'm grateful for that.

The story of the Vietnamese community is one of unrelenting resilience and undeniable contribution. When we resettled we didn't just survive; we thrived. Groups like the Vietnamese Elderly Friendship Association and the Vietnamese Community in Australia became vital platforms for advocacy and change. Just this past weekend, along with Mayor Frank Carbone, I was honoured to present council's commemorative banner to the organisers, the VCA NSW Chapter and their president Thang Ha, who held a grand festival to mark the 50th anniversary. The banner, flown across all 28 suburbs across Fairfield City, incorporated the Australian flag, the South Vietnamese heritage flag—yellow and three red stripes—and images of both Australian and South Vietnamese soldiers. It is a beautiful symbol of shared history and enduring connection. I want to acknowledge and thank the Fairfield City Council and the mayor for their acknowledgement and for doing this for our community.

In June, I also had the opportunity to be part of the Vietnamese Museum Australia fundraising event in Melbourne to raise funds to build this museum that will preserve the enduring legacy of Vietnamese-Australians, their boat journey and settlement here, for generations to come.

The shared history of displacement and new beginnings makes Fowler so special. Every face tells a story of perseverance, and my role is to continue to advocate for and champion our community that is built on hard work, sacrifice and opportunity. There are many others migrants and refugees who have come to call Fowler home, and I want to pay tribute to them as well.

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