Year 12 IB Extended Essays 2018

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The Vietnam War brought along with it many positive impacts to the Australian political scene. Firstly, and most importantly, it brought upon the end of the ‘White Australia Policy’ due to the influx of foreigners coming from Asia to escape the risk of communism spreading through the continent. This further led to the signing of SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation). This was signed between Australia, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and America. The formation of SEATO was a response to the threat of the communist spread throughout South East Asia and as well to attempt to stop the military aggression in Korea and Indo-China with these nations not being invited to join the treaty, instead these were accorded military protection by a protocol. Other nations in South and South East Asia stuck to their foreign policies of nonalignment. SEATO was set up to defend the members, and the whole of South East Asia, with a defensive mentality, promoting economic and social progress. As well this, Australian relations with South East Asia improved dramatically. Some of the reasons that this is evident is in the trade routes that were created by Australia with the rest of Asia, with 25% of their exports in 1969- 70, going to Japan whereas only 11.8% were going to Britain.(Skwirk, 2018) Gough Whitlam, the ALP leader from 1967 to 1977, became Prime Minister in 1972, winning Labour their first election for nearly 25 years. In his 3 years as Prime Minister, he opened up relations with the People’s Republic of China and within a year of this, an embassy was opened in China. Similarly, there were trade agreements with countries like South Korea and Taiwan. Continuing on, he made a conscious effort to maintain relations with communist Vietnam, even though it was heavily disagreed upon with America, and by the 1980’s Australia had gained positive relations with Vietnam and had provided aid to help rebuild Vietnam. Furthermore, going on from the influx of multiculturalism, this also allowed Australia to finally abolish the inherently racist ‘White Australia Policy’ which was heavily against any foreigners except for English speaking ones to enter the country. Finally, during