Today is a very significant day for our Vietnamese Australian community.
On 30 April 1975, Saigon fell to the communist North Vietnam. This led to the exodus of over a million Vietnamese, hundreds of thousands by boat. Hundreds of thousands lost their lives in the pursuit of freedom.
The Australian government under Malcolm Fraser welcomed thousands to Australia. Over the last 51 years, our Vietnamese Australian community has contributed in so many ways to our beautiful country.
This morning I joined members of the community who paid their deepest respects at the memorial in ANZAC square to the Australians who served and gave their lives in the war.
