Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This Friday marks the 61st anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, one of the most significant battles in which Australian forces were involved in Vietnam. On 18 August 1966, a small force of 108 members of D Company of the Australian Task Force were involved with an overwhelmingly larger Viet Cong force numbering somewhere between 1,500 and 2,500 soldiers. Facing these overwhelming numbers, the Australians withstood the assault. Eighteen Australians were killed and 24 were wounded in that battle, but when the battle was over it was discovered that not only had the Australians withstood the assault but there were 254 Viet Cong dead and the assault on Nui Dat had been stopped.

Despite being former enemies, our two countries have forged a strong partnership involving trade, tourism and culture. Along with the member for Cowan, I had the opportunity of participating in a human rights dialogue between Australia and Vietnam just last week. It occurred days before the commemoration of this battle, and it showed that Australia can make friends and be peaceful with former enemies.