Damon Mcknight
The Vietnam War was the cause of the greatest social and political dissent in Australia since World War I. From 1962 to 1975, around 60,000 Australians served in the war, with 523 killed and almost 2,400 wounded. The war was initially supported by the Australian government, which aimed to stop the spread of communism and strengthen its ties with the US. However, as the war dragged on, public opinion shifted, and many began to oppose Australia's involvement on moral grounds, particularly conscription, which forced young Australian men to fight in Vietnam. This opposition manifested in widespread protests, with hundreds of thousands of people participating in moratorium demonstrations in 1970 and 1971, making them the largest and most sustained in Australia's history.
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What You'll Learn
Public opposition to conscription
The introduction of conscription in 1964 was a key factor in the escalation of anti-war sentiment in Australia. As the war progressed without a clear end in sight, a growing number of people began to object to conscription on moral grounds. The "Don't register" campaign, aimed at discouraging young men from registering for conscription, gained significant support, with some protests turning violent.
Televised images of the fighting in Vietnam also played a crucial role in shaping public opinion. The Vietnam War was the first conflict to be televised and broadcast back to Australia, bringing the reality of the war into people's homes and sparking widespread protests and sit-ins across the nation. The public was increasingly aware of the human cost of the war, with many soldiers returning to a hostile reception and facing fines or jail time for draft resistance or conscientious objection.
The anti-conscription movement cut across all segments of Australian society, with people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds participating in protests. The groundswell of support for the anti-war movement came from baby boomers, who made up 40% of the population under the age of 20. University students, particularly militant leftists, were also strongly opposed to the war and played a significant role in the protest movement.
The protests reflected a period of great social change in Australia, with people from diverse backgrounds defying authority and challenging the government's commitment to the war and its rationale of containing communism. The anti-conscription sentiment was so strong that it likely influenced the government's policy, leading to measures to reduce the number of draft resisters being jailed.
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Growing anti-war sentiment
Conscription
Conscription, or the compulsory enlistment of citizens to serve in the military, was a significant source of contention in Australia during the Vietnam War. It was introduced in 1964, and opposition to it mounted as the war continued with no end in sight. Many citizens believed that conscription was unfair and were angry about young Australian men being forced to fight in Vietnam. A "Don't register" campaign emerged to dissuade young men from registering for conscription, gaining widespread support. The Australian government relied on conscription to increase the number of troops available to send to Vietnam. However, as protests grew, the government took measures to reduce the number of draft resisters being jailed.
Media Coverage
The Vietnam War was the first war to be televised and broadcast back to Australians, bringing the reality of the conflict into people's homes. Graphic images of the fighting strongly influenced the escalation of anti-war sentiment. The media played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and resistance to the war and conscription. However, the Australian government also used the media to control the public's knowledge about Vietnam and manage resistance to the war.
Changing Public Attitudes
As the war dragged on, public attitudes evolved, and support for the war began to wane. The groundswell of support for the anti-war movement came from baby boomers and university students, with growing numbers identifying as militant leftists. As casualties among allied forces increased, people began to object to the war on moral grounds. The war was seen as a damaging policy of a conservative government, and the public became disillusioned with the seemingly endless conflict.
Political Opposition
Opposition to Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War was not limited to the general public but also extended to prominent political figures. During the 1970s, leading members of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), including Arthur Calwell, Jim Cairns, Lionel Murphy, and Gough Whitlam, actively opposed Australia's participation in the war. This opposition contributed to the Whitlam government's victory in the 1972 election.
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Media influence
The Vietnam War was the first war to be televised and broadcast back to Australians, which sparked widespread protest and sit-ins across the nation. The public's attitudes to the war changed as the conflict went on. Televised images of the fighting strongly influenced the escalation in anti-war feeling. The media played an important role in the government's management of public resistance to the conscription system. The government relied on conscription as a way to increase the number of men available to be sent to Vietnam.
The Australian government used the public's lack of knowledge about Vietnam to its advantage. It could use the media to control how much people knew about the country and its people. Controlling that knowledge helped the government's involvement in the war. The media reported on the protests and tried to present both the government and protest sides of the story.
The war was the cause of the greatest social and political dissent in Australia since the conscription referendums of the First World War. Many draft resisters, conscientious objectors, and protesters were fined or jailed, while soldiers met a hostile reception on their return home. The groundswell of support for the anti-war movement came from baby boomers – the 40% of the population under the age of 20. Most university students strongly opposed the war, especially the growing number of militant leftists.
The final five ballot draws were even broadcast on TV as the government tried to influence public opinion. During the 1970 visit of US Vice President Spiro Agnew, several hundred people attended a demonstration. The fact that a wide range of people took part indicates the extent to which the Vietnam War had politicised the Australian population.
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Influence of the US
Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War was closely aligned with the United States' interests and policies. From 1962 to 1975, around 60,000 Australians served in the war as part of an allied force led by the US, fighting alongside South Vietnamese government forces against the communist-led Viet Cong.
The war was justified by the Australian government as a means to stop the spread of communism and strengthen the country's ties with the US, its most important strategic ally. Prime Minister Robert Menzies, who loathed communism, believed that China and any country under its influence posed a threat to Australia.
The US government's policies and actions had a significant influence on Australia's involvement in the war. In 1961 and 1962, South Vietnam's leader, Ngo Dinh Diem, repeatedly requested security assistance from the US and its allies. In response, Australia initially deployed 30 military advisers in 1962, marking the beginning of its involvement in the conflict.
As the war progressed, the US's commitment to the conflict increased, and Australia followed suit. When it became apparent that the allied forces were struggling to hold their ground in 1965, Australia increased its forces in May 1966, further entrenching its involvement.
The US's policy decisions also influenced Australia's eventual withdrawal from the war. The US began implementing a policy of "Vietnamisation", which involved a gradual withdrawal of US forces, leaving the war to be fought by the South Vietnamese. This shift in US policy coincided with Australia's decision to start winding down its military efforts in Vietnam in late 1970.
The anti-war movement in Australia was also influenced by events in the US. The growing opposition to the war in the US, particularly after the Tet Offensive in 1968, and the extension of the war into Cambodia, contributed to the increasing anti-war sentiment in Australia. The large-scale US moratorium protests in October 1969 inspired the Australian moratorium movement, with the first Australian moratorium in May 1970 attracting more than 200,000 protesters across the country.
Thus, the influence of the US was a significant factor in both Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War and the subsequent protests against it.
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The war's impact on soldiers' homecoming
The Vietnam War was the first war to be televised and broadcast back to Australians, and this played a significant role in shaping public opinion and sentiment. The public was exposed to the horrors of war and the human cost, and this led to a groundswell of support for the anti-war movement, particularly among young people. The war was also seen as a futile attempt to stop the spread of communism in Asia, a cause that many Australians did not identify with.
The impact of this shift in public sentiment was felt by soldiers returning home from Vietnam. Many soldiers met a hostile reception on their return, with some Australians regarding their involvement in the war as unjust and unnecessary. This sentiment was further inflamed by the extension of the war into Cambodia, a neutral country, which drove many to join the underground opposition, the Khmer Rouge. The Australian government's decision to rely heavily on conscription to increase the number of troops available for deployment also proved to be unpopular, with many citizens believing it was unfair and immoral.
As the war dragged on with no end in sight, the anti-war movement gained momentum, and the soldiers returning home became a visible reminder of a conflict that many Australians no longer supported. The protests and social changes happening in Australia at the time also contributed to a sense of discord and unrest. The government's decision to commit troops to Vietnam was seen as a decision made by an out-of-touch, conservative government, and the soldiers returning home became a symbol of this discontent.
The exact number of returning soldiers who experienced negative reactions upon their homecoming is unclear, but it is known that around 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam, and many would have returned to a country that was increasingly divided over the war. The social and political dissent caused by the war, as well as the unpopularity of conscription, likely contributed to a difficult homecoming for many soldiers.
The impact of the war on soldiers' homecomings also extended beyond their initial return. The Vietnam War was a highly controversial conflict, and Australia's involvement has been the subject of much debate and reflection. For many veterans, the controversy and opposition to the war may have impacted their ability to integrate back into society and receive recognition for their service. The war's legacy and its impact on those who served is still felt today, with ongoing efforts to acknowledge and support Vietnam veterans.
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Frequently asked questions
There were several reasons why people in Australia protested against the Vietnam War. Firstly, there was growing discontent within a portion of the Australian population towards the government's commitment to the war and conscription. People were angry about young Australians being forced to fight in Vietnam and thought that conscription was unfair. Secondly, the war was the cause of the greatest social and political dissent in Australia since World War I, with many draft resisters, conscientious objectors, and protesters fined or jailed. Finally, the war was the first to be televised, allowing Australians to see images of the fighting that strongly influenced the escalation in anti-war feeling.
The two main objectives of the Australian anti-war protests were to withdraw Australian troops from Vietnam and to end conscription. The protests also reflected a broader collapse in public support for the war and a growing unity among those opposed to it.
The anti-Vietnam War protests in Australia began to gain momentum in 1968 and continued into the early 1970s. The largest protests occurred in 1970 and 1971, with more than 200,000 people gathering in cities and towns across the country.
