Explain why Australia became involved in the Vietnam War.

Australia was involved in the Vietnam war for a variety of
reasons and each had a significant impact on the ultimate
decision.

Initially, the Australian government sent about
30 military advisors to help train the RVN army and when combatants were sent in 1965,
Menzies claimed that South Vietnam had 'invitied' Australia to help them
fight.

The Australian government was very aware
of Communism spreading throughout Asia and labelled this is as the 'domino effect',
fearing the Australia would ultimately fall to communism because of our geographical
proximity to these countries. As a result, Menzies promoted the Forward Defence strategy
to fight communism before it came to Australia.

Menzies also
implemented the Forward Defence strategy as a means of preventing war from coming to
Australia. He publicised the view that "... The takeover of South Vietnam would be a
direct military threat to Australia...", fearing that the takeover of South Vietnam
would mean war for Australia.

Fiurthermore, Australia had a
number of political obligations to fulfill and denying their responsibilities as part of
the ANZUS, 1951 and SEATO, 1954 treaties would label Australia as cowardly, unreliable,
undependable and untrustworthy. It would have also exposed Australia to more military
threats and left us without support from key
allies.

Finally, Australia had joined the Vietnam War as a
demonstration of support for our American ally. After the Second World War, it had
become clear that America was the new superpower and the Australian government felt they
needed to have the world's most powerful nation on their side should Australia be
attacked.