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Australia In The VIetnam War Essay Research

Australia In The VIetnam War Essay, Research Paper


The only time Australia has come under


direct attack from another country, was when Japan bombed Darwin and sunk


a number of ships in Sydney, during World War 2. The question then has


to be asked, why Australia has been involved in so many conflicts. A number


of recent conflicts in this century come to mind, they include, The Boer


War, World War One, World War Two and The Vietnam War. By far the conflict


that drew the most outrage from Australian citizens was the Vietnam War.


Australia has been drawn into these conflicts through a number of treaties


and alliances made with other countries. Often it is not the conflicts


that have drawn most outrage from Australian citizens, rather the insistence


of other countries, for Australia to accept large numbers of post-war refugees.


The introduction of conscription into


Australia during the Vietnam War, caused much outrage in the Australian


public. Vietnam was the first war ever to be properly televised, the public


saw for the first time the true brutality of war. The public started to


question Australia?s involvement in the war. Moratoriums were held around


Australia in protest against conscription and Australia?s involvement in


the war. Much of the protesting was done by students and the younger generations,


there was still support for the war effort. This was reflected in the November


1966 elections, when there was a landslide victory for the Liberals. Conscription


did have an effect on the Liberal governments popularity, a few months


after a complete troop withdrawal in 1972 from Vietnam, the Whitlam Labour


government replaced the McMahon Liberal government. Historically, one of


the influencing factors of the Liberal?s election loss was the Governments


choice to get involved in a war that had little to do with Australia.


Australia?s involvement in Vietnam came


about due to the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation(SEATO). Australia


was a country involved in SEATO. After Americas request, South Vietnam


requested Australia?s help in the Vietnam Conflict. Australia?s involvement


in this organisation was an important

one, if South-East Asia fell to communism,


then it?s northern shores would be vulnerable. Having said this, Australia?s


involvement in this conflict was not purely for this reason. Political


ambition was a major contributing factor in Australia?s involvement. After


all, it was a chance to help one of the most powerful countries in the


world out, and this would strengthen Australia?s political alliances with


America.


After all wars, there are always large


numbers of homeless refugees. Australia has always been seen as a good


place to house such refugees, due to it?s size. Socially there has been


much unrest in the Australian public to this. The Australian public have


seen Asian migrants and refugees as a threat to their jobs, as they work


harder for less pay. Post-Vietnam War was no exception, with 70000 Indo-Chinese


refugees arriving in Australia since the late 1970?s. Politically the acceptance


of war time refugees into Australia, has put the Australian government


in a good image with other countries, this acceptance of refugees and migrants


has strengthened Australia?s trade ties with other countries introducing


large amounts of Capital Revenue.


Australia?s involvement in the Vietnam


War was pointless, many Australians died fighting a war that had very little


to do with them. Australia?s involvement was largely Political. The question


has to be asked, is it okay to sacrifice innocent citizens in a war for


political gain. The large amount of protests held reflect, how socially


disillusioned and discontent ordinary Australians were with the war. Australian?s


involvement in foreign wars, have bought large numbers of refugees to Australia,


this has been evident through the number of Vietnamese boat people coming


to Australia. Although there have been some positives for Australia?s involvement


in other countries war?s, the negatives far outweigh the positives, with


many innocent Australian citizens dying for another countries war. With


increased public awareness through televising of current wars, Australia?s


involvement in other countries wars may end, thus fewer innocent lives


will be lost.

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