Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Shadow Treasurer) | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Brockman.

On behalf of the Senate, I congratulate the Perth Filipino Australian club on reaching its 40th anniversary. I wish the club, its members and the wider Filipino Australian community every success for the future and thank them for their outstanding contribution to the social, cultural and economic fabric of a wonderful state. Of course, that state is the state of Western Australia—a wonderful place to live, to grow up and to raise your family, and an important contributor to our national success.

Tonight I rise also to acknowledge a significant event that I was honoured to attend recently in Perth: the 61st anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Vietnam armed forces. As a Western Australian senator and as the son of a Vietnam veteran, it was a privilege to join members of the Republic of Vietnam veterans association of Western Australia and the Vietnamese Services RSL Sub-branch for a commemorative dinner, recognising the service and sacrifice of those who fought to defend South Vietnam, and, importantly, to express gratitude to the allied forces who stood alongside them.

The evening was a powerful reminder of the deep and enduring ties between Australia and the Vietnamese Australian community. It honoured the men and women of the Republic of Vietnam armed forces who fought for freedom, national sovereignty and self-determination.

Importantly, it also recognised the service of more than 60,000 Australians who served in Vietnam between 1962 and 1973. One of them was my father. More than 5,000 Australians lost their lives, and thousands more returned home wounded, both physically and emotionally. Sadly, many Vietnam veterans returned to a nation that did not fully understand their sacrifice or their service. Unlike previous generations of service men and women, they were met with indifference and, in some cases, hostility. They often found themselves excluded from the recognition and support afforded to earlier veterans. That experience was shared by many former members of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces who later chose to make Australia their home and who have indeed made a significant and enduring contribution to their new home, Australia.

The establishment of the Vietnamese Services RSL Sub-Branch provided a long-overdue home within Western Australia's veteran community for former South Vietnamese service men and women and their families, ensuring their service and their sacrifices would be recognised and preserved for future generations. The sub-branch, together with the Republic of Vietnam Veterans Association of Western Australia, performs invaluable work preserving the history of those who fought alongside Australian forces and strengthening the bonds between veterans of both nations.

Importantly, the evening also celebrated the remarkable contribution Vietnamese Australians have made to Western Australia and our nation for over 50 years. Many arrived as refugees seeking freedom and opportunity and fleeing repression. Through hard work, resilience and determination, they have built thriving communities and enriched every aspect of Australian life. I'm proud to be an Australian who honours that contribution and is happy to make sure that Australia is a safe place for other people fleeing persecution throughout the world. I commend all those involved in organising this important event and thank them for ensuring that the stories of service, sacrifice and freedom continue to be passed on to future generations. Lest we forget.