On 16 June this year Hieu Van Le AO, Lieutenant Governor of South Australia, delivered a very moving account of his experiences as a migrant to Australia, arriving in Darwin as a refugee after fleeing war-torn Vietnam in 1977.

Mr Le’s speech touched on issues of migration that have been so important in the formation of Australia, and by approaching them through his personal experience brought out very effectively the impact of migration on both individuals and the communities they collectively form.

But for the audience perhaps the most moving part of Mr Le’s speech was his evocation of the House of Representatives chamber in which he was speaking as a place of great historical significance, the location of so many important debates and decisions which have affected the lives of Australians and of those arriving in Australia. His words captured the spirit of the place and brought the chamber to life as a place of meaning for all Australians.

We hope to be able to continue make the Annual Immigration and Citizenship addresses available online in future years.