On 18 August, our nation pays tribute to all those who served, suffered and sacrificed in the Vietnam War between 1962 and 1973.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
Shadow Minister for Defence Industry
Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel
STATEMENT

Vietnam was a twofold tragedy. There was the tragedy of the war itself: the lives lost and lives forever altered in our longest war of the 20th century. And there was the tragedy which should have never been: the mistreatment of those who served and returned.

For Australia, Vietnam was predominantly a ground war. For our soldiers, their experiences were especially gruelling. Amidst constant patrols through jungles, mountains, swamps, rice paddies, rubber plantations and villages, there was the persistent risk of ambush, the peril of booby traps, and the intensity of close-quarter fighting and guerrilla warfare. More than 3,000 Australians were wounded in Vietnam, and 523 Australians fell in that foreign land.

For the veterans who returned home, some were met with ingratitude or indifference, while others were abused and accused of war crimes – such was the protest movement that surrounded the polarising conflict. Moreover, many veterans did not receive adequate medical support to deal with their wounds, both seen and unseen.

On Vietnam Veterans’ Day, it’s important not to forget the Cold War historical context in which Australia committed troops to the war. With an Iron Curtain having descended across the European continent, there was a fear that many countries in Southeast Asia would also fall to the tyranny of communist movements. Australians fought and fell in Vietnam for a cause greater than themselves.

On Vietnam Veterans’ Day, in acknowledging that our veterans were not treated in a manner befitting their service and sacrifice, we recommit ourselves, as citizens, to not repeat the mistakes of the past – to always draw a distinction between the politics of war and the people who go to war.

Today, we honour the 60,000 Australians who served in Vietnam, including the 15,000 Australians who went to war against their will but without complaint, having been conscripted under the National Service Scheme.

To our dear veterans who are still with us:

On your day, our nation expresses its profound gratitude for all you did serving your country – and its deep regret for all you shouldn’t have endured upon returning home.

May our memory hold us to the mark.
18 August 2025