Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to mark an extraordinary milestone in our national story: the 50th anniversary of Vietnamese settlement in Australia. Half a century ago, following the fall of Saigon in 1975, Australia opened its doors to one of the largest refugee intakes in our history. In the years that followed, tens of thousands of Vietnamese families arrived on Australia's shores, many with little more than courage and determination. They came seeking freedom, security and the chance to build a new life. In the context of the time, their arrival challenged us as a nation. There were doubts and debates about whether such a large and sudden wave of immigration could succeed. But succeed it has, beyond every measure.

Vietnamese Australians are now one of the great success stories of our great multicultural society. From Cabramatta in Sydney to Footscray in Melbourne to Girrawheen in Perth, vibrant Vietnamese communities have flourished. They combine their traditions, their work ethic, their entrepreneurial spirit and of course their incredible cuisine. Vietnamese Australians have become leaders in business, medicine, education, the arts and public service. They have raised families, built thriving small businesses and sent their children to universities and into professions where they've served with distinction.

The contribution of Vietnamese Australians to the economic and social fabric of this country has been immense. We also cannot forget the sacrifices of many Vietnamese Australians who have served in our Defence Force, in policing and in front-line emergency services, continuing their proud tradition of loyalty to the country that gave their families refuge.

The 50th anniversary is also an opportunity to acknowledge the hardships that have been endured. Many who came here carry deep trauma from conflict, from separation and, of course, from very dangerous journeys across the seas. Their perseverance and resilience deserve the highest respect.

It is here that I wish to recognise one particular leader, Dr Anh Nguyen OAM, President of the WA chapter of the Vietnamese Community in Australia and co-founder and project leader for the Vietnamese community cultural centre which will soon be built in Girrawheen and with which I've had a very close association and which, of course, is very close to my electorate office. For decades, Dr Nguyen has worked to support new arrivals, preserved cultural traditions and built stronger connections between communities. He has championed initiatives that bring people together, from cultural festivals that showcase Vietnamese traditions to programs that support young people, families and seniors in Western Australia. His service has strengthened not only the Vietnamese community but the wider multicultural fabric of my home state.

The Vietnamese settlement experience demonstrates that, when Australia maintains strong borders and a fair, properly-modelled migration system, the rewards are shared by the whole nation. The children and grandchildren of those first arrivals are now among our best examples of what opportunity, freedom and community can achieve. As we mark this milestone, we celebrate a community that has given so much to Australia and a country that was made better by opening its doors 50 years ago—a country that was made better because it challenged its fears and anxieties.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Vietnamese Australians across the nation on this important anniversary, and I use this opportunity to reaffirm, with gratitude, all those things that bring a shared national value to our country, and of course, at the heart of that, on this occasion of the 50th anniversary, I celebrate the wonderful Vietnamese community and acknowledge their great courage in very, very difficult times 50 years ago.