Australia in the Vietnam War

Australia in the Vietnam War
Australia in the Vietnam War
How did the Australian government respond to the threat of communism after WW11?

Australia and its politicians immediately recognised what would happen in a result of the domino theory. Australians wanted to stay a democracy, they wanted someone who could lead them away from this and respond against communism and that’s why they choose Menzies because of the spread of communism. Australia acted fast and joined USA to fight the spread of communism and to keep the peace treaties ANZUS. The Australian government started to send troops over to Vietnam to stop the Viet Cong. The Vietnam War divided Australia politically and socially, people felt bad that Australia was fighting in a civil war because the deaths of innocent civilians. So The Vietnam War caused widespread conflict in Australia.

What was the impact of the war on Australia and/or neighbouring countries?
The impact of the war on Australia and other neighbouring countries were the fleeing of civilians to other countries to escape from the war. Neighbouring countries were impacted because the threat of the communists going to take over there countries to expand the empire. The main impact on Australia was the mass amount of people who immigrated to Australia illegally known as refugees. Thousands of people crammed themselves into small boats which were in very bad conditions and risked their lives in an attempt to make their way to a much safer, better place, like Australia. One impact was the mutations caused to children of the troops because of the chemicals such as Agent Orange that were used in Vietnam. These chemicals also caused harm to our troops because it was also found to be the later cause of cancer.

“Australians should never have been sent to fight in
Vietnam because it was not our war.”?
Australians should have never have been sent to fight in Vietnam because it was a civil war between the North and South Vietnam. Australians should not have been involved in the Vietnam War because it was a war of aggression. Australia and the USA had no business to interfere with Vietnam. It was a war that could not be won and as it turned out many people were killed as a result of the war and the effects are still felt by the Vietnamese as a result of Agent Orange. But because nothing was gained for anyone, those that produced the weapons and the politics surrounded the war. “One should not aid a bully because the bully helped protect you once” said by a soldier in the Vietnam War meaning no one should help a bully because the bully will only help you once, after he helps you he gains more power over you.
Australia should not have joined in the Vietnam War because of the loss of fathers, brothers, and sons. Many Australian people protested against the war because of this.
Australia should have not joined the Vietnam War because of the pain and suffering of returned soldiers. The soldiers had to live with injuries such as amputated legs and arms, cancer, stress and depression. Most soldiers get divorced because of not being able to work and provide for the family, so a married wife would have to work or they would divorce.
Australia in a way had to go to keep the peace treaties ANZUS and Australia did not want to let down America. But Australia felt threatened by communists and wanted to say a democracy. Also some Australians felt that we already had a war in Korea and might as well fight in Vietnam