Sequence 2: Hieu Van Le
Government support
Hieu Van Le points out the Federal government support and attitude towards the Vietnamese refugees after the boat arrivals and refugee program started. Nevertheless, the then Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Michael MacKellar, addressed many public forums and explained, in defense of refugees, why Australia had an obligation to take its fair share of refugees. In one speech, he told how he had visited 10 Indochinese refugee camps in Thailand, Malaysia – camps that housed a total of more than 65,000 people. ‘My impression of the refugees,’ he told the audience in Sydney, ‘was one of courage and determination’. In another speech — this time delivered in Adelaide in July 1979 — Mr McKellar said:
[Refugees] can be expected at any early stage after arrival to contribute to the social and cultural life of their new community. They have to do well here because once here, there is nowhere else to go… They are honest, hard-working people who respond well to challenge. They are willing to undertake jobs not readily acceptable to others in the community. Most Indochinese children are reported to be adjusting well in school … Australia offers a great deal to refugees, but refugees also offer a great deal to Australia.
Source: Mr Hieu Van Le (AO), ‘Annual address on immigration and citizenship’, Canberra, June 16, 2011, page 9
Inquiry question
- How did the Minister refute anti-Vietnamese claims?
Back to Sequence 2 The Globalising World: Changing policies and Australian identity History Year 10
