History Exam Notes

AUSTRALIA IN THE VIETNAM WAR ERA

Vietnam moratorium
The Vietnam moratorium protests, the first of which took place on 8 May 1970, were the largest
public demonstrations in Australia's history at the time. ... The protests took place during a period
of great social change in Australia, when people from a range of backgrounds were prepared to
defy authority.

Fear of Communism in Asia

Communist Party Dissolution Bill

In 1950, the Liberal Party government led by Menzies introduced the Communist Party Dissolution
Bill into federal Parliament. Menzies claimed that ‘Australia must be placed on a semi-war footing
which will involve restrictions on many civil liberties’. The legislation proposed to:

● outlaw the Communist Party

● permit government to take possession of all property belonging to the Communist Party
● prohibit anyone declared as a communist from holding a job in the trade union movement
or in a government organisation.

Once declared a communist, it was up to the accused to prove his or her innocence. This clause in
the legislation enraged many people, as it threatened individual rights and freedoms. Ten trade
unions and the Australian Communist Party challenged the Bill in the Australian High Court. They
argued that only during wartime should a democratic government have the power to control the
rights of citizens. The High Court agreed and ruled that the Bill was unconstitutional. Prime Minister
Menzies responded by announcing his intention to go to the people through a referendum to
outlaw and crush the Communist Party in Australia

ANZUS and SEATO

In September 1954, the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation – SEATO – came into existence. It
comprised: the US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan and France.
Again, no specific commitments had been made to defend treaty members in the event of attack,
but it was assumed that the spirit of the agreement would see this happen.

In 1951 Australia and New Zealand joined with the United States to sign the ANZUS Treaty. Under
the terms of the treaty, the nations each viewed an attack on any one of them as a threat to the
security of them all. If such a threat eventuated, they would meet to discuss a response. At the
same time, each nation had to develop its own defence capabilities.

Lyndon Johnson (LBJ) visit to Australia during Vietnam War

Australians protest against the 1966 visit of the US President Lyndon Baines Johnson. By May 1970,
more than 200 000 Australians across the nation marched in protest against our involvement in
the war. The photograph shows the wide range of Australians opposed to ‘going all the way with
LBJ’.

US President Lyndon Baines Johnson, popularly known as L.B.J., arrived in Australia in October
1966. As the first American head of state to visit Australia, he was given a welcome usually
reserved for royalty. The United States was facing international criticism for the escalation of war in
Vietnam and looked to Australia for gestures of support. The new Prime Minister, Harold Holt, who
had replaced Menzies when he retired, declared on behalf of Australia: ‘You have an admiring
friend, a staunch friend that will be all the way with L.B.J.’ A huge crowd of enthusiastic
Sydneysiders turned out to greet L.B.J. with tickertape and welcome posters. Thousands of
Australians opposed to the war were also out in the streets with placards and banners demanding
an end to the war in Vietnam. Protesters threw paint bombs at the presidential convoy and chanted
‘L.B.J., L.B.J., how many kids did you kill today?’

Australia’s involvement in Vietnam

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Conscription
Conscription had been a controversial issue during World War I and continued to arouse
controversy and passion during the Vietnam War. In 1950, Prime Minister Menzies introduced a
limited form of conscription requiring three months of full-time training and home service. This
system was abandoned in 1958. Six years later Prime Minister Menzies introduced a Bill in
Parliament that became one of the most divisive pieces of legislation an Australian government
ever made. The 1964 legislation reintroduce conscription for males reaching their 20th birthday.
After registering for ‘National Service’ the conscripts, or ‘Nashos’ as they were popularly known,
were chosen by a lottery involving marbles with birth dates on them being picked from a barrel.
This was referred to as being ‘drafted’. Men in the draft age bracket had approximately a one in ten
chance of being selected, and had to serve for a period of two years. In 1966, Prime Minister
Harold Holt announced that conscripts would be sent to fight in Vietnam. This was the first time
conscripts had been sent to fight overseas during peacetime.

Change in perception of the Vietnam War

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RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

Australia’s role in the United Nations

Australia contributes to the UN primarily through the UN General Assembly in New York and specialist UN
bodies such as WHO, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Labour
Organization (ILO) and UNESCO. Australia promotes its national concerns through UN discussions on
disarmament, international security, refugee issues, environmental protection, aid programs and health.

Dr Herbert Evatt and his role in the United Nations

The Australian Dr. Herbet Vere Evatt, born in 1894 (-1965) played an important role in the formation
and early operations of the United Nations. Dr. Evatt led a committee which was involved in the
creation of the foundations of the UN. The United Nations charter was signed by many countries
including Australia on 26 June 1945. Dr. Evatt was the president of the UN general assembly from
1948 to 1949. During his time in office he was involved in the Atomic Energy Commission and the
drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

United Nations
What is the United Nations (UN)?
The United Nations is an international organisation involving the 191 signatory countries whom
seeks to maintain world peace.

When was it established?

The United Nations was established following the demise of the League of Nations and as a result
of the Second World War. The UN charter agreement was signed by the 51 original member
countries in 1945.

Why was it established?

The UN was primarily an organisation involved in maintaining world peace and stability as a result
of WW2. It has gradually moved to being a humanitarian agency but retaining its initial role through
the Security Council.

What does the UN do?

The UN’s Charter announced that the organisation’s aim was ‘to maintain international peace and
security and ... to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to
the peace’. The UN also sought to uphold human rights around the world and to work for improved
living conditions.

Mabo
The Mabo decision was a turning point for the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples' rights, because it acknowledged their unique connection with the land. It also led to the
Australian Parliament passing the Native Title Act in 1993. The Mabo Decision removed the
concept of terra nullius (land owned by no one).

The Mabo Case was a significant legal case in Australia that recognised the land rights of the
Meriam people, traditional owners of the Murray Islands (which include the islands of Mer, Dauer
and Waier) in the Torres Strait. Eddie Mabo challenged the existing Australian legal system from
two perspectives:

1. On the assumption that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had no
understanding of land ownership before the arrival of British colonisers in 1788 (terra
nullius)
2. That the power of the government/Parliament automatically meant complete ownership of
all land in Australia (removing any existing rights that the Aboriginal people had).

On 3 June 1992, six of the seven High Court judges upheld the claim and ruled that the lands of
this continent were not terra nullius or ‘land belonging to no-one’ when European settlement
occurred, and that the Meriam people were 'entitled as against the whole world to possession,
occupation, use and enjoyment of (most of) the lands of the Murray Islands'.
Significance - The Mabo decision was a turning point for the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people's’ rights, because it acknowledged their unique connection with the land. It
also led to the Australian Parliament passing the Native Title Act in 1993.

Stolen Generation
The Stolen Generations (also known as Stolen Children) were the children of Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by the
Australian Federal and State government agencies and church missions, under acts of
their respective parliaments.

Freedom Rides
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Native Title Act 1993

The Native Title Act 1993 is a law passed by the Australian Parliament, the purpose of
which is "to provide a national system for the recognition and protection of native title and
for its co-existence with the national land management system". Native title recognises a
set of rights and interests over land or waters where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
groups have practiced and continue to practice, traditional laws and customs prior to
sovereignty (British occupation).

Assimilation
Assimilation is a policy of encouraging Indigenous people and migrants to take on
Australian ways and customs.

US Civil Rights Movement and its impact on Australia

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Indigenous Australian activism

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