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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-27 Daily Xml
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MIGRATION, BALTIC STATES

The Hon. L. STEVENS (Little Para) (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Can the minister inform the house how the South Australian government has marked the arrival of peoples from the Baltic states over 60 years ago?

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:06): In 1939, war broke out in Europe and that was quickly followed in 1940 by the Soviet Union's invasion of the three Baltic nations: Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.

The Hon. M.D. Rann interjecting:

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: Thank you, Premier. The Soviet Army carried out mass arrests, deportations and executions. As if that were not enough, the Nazi invasion followed in June 1941, and more forced conscriptions, forced labour, arrests and persecutions followed. The Jewish communities of the three nations were destroyed. The people of the Baltic nations resisted both invaders as the currents and fortunes of the war on the Eastern Front waxed and waned, until the Soviet terror returned with the Red Army as they forced the Germans back to Germany.

Just when the Baltic people thought they might regain their freedom, their hopes were dashed again by their old oppressors who re-established their occupation. Those Lithuanians, Estonians and Latvians who managed to flee the new occupation through the refugee camps in Germany and elsewhere went into self exile, not by choice but by necessity.

Sixty years ago, the commonwealth government began its highly successful migration program, an initiative that has made and continues to make it possible for the Australian nation to grow and prosper. The first major source of migrants who came to help meet Australia's severe labour shortages were from the Baltic nations. Those who came to Australia came by choice as they sought an opportunity for a new life away from the tyranny of Nazi and Soviet oppressors.

Late last year, I was pleased to host a reception in the members' dining room to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Baltic community's arrival in Australia and to acknowledge the contributions of the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian communities to Australia since 1947. Among those present were Mr Hieu Van Le, Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia and Chairman of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, and Mrs Lindsay Simmons, member for Morialta. I also make special mention of Bruno Krumins, former lieutenant-governor of South Australia, current President of the Latvian Association of South Australia and the first chairman of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission. He is a man who has made South Australia and the Latvian community proud. Of course, there are many other members of the Baltic communities who have contributed much to the success not only of their communities but of South Australia and the nation. Many of these people were present at the reception here at Parliament House.

Through the long years of the occupation and repression of the Baltic nations, the Baltic people in exile never lost hope and never gave up the fight. The Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian communities organised themselves here in Australia with clubs and associations to look after the cultural and welfare needs of their members: with media outlets in their languages; with relief and aid organisations to help their compatriots in the occupied homelands, and with groups to pursue the political issues that were necessary to help achieve freedom for the Baltic States. I was pleased to work with the Captive Nations Council, from the mid-1980s onwards.

When that freedom and independence for the three nations finally came in the early 1990s, they celebrated not only their independence but also their contribution to that freedom. They can hold their heads high knowing that they helped to bring freedom, democracy and independence to the Baltic nations.

During the reception, I was honoured to receive some thoughtful and charming gifts from community leaders. One gift was a beautiful Namejs ring, the ring of Latvia, that symbolises Latvian collective unity and individual freedom. I was also given a pair of fascinating traditional Estonian dolls by Dr Peter Salu which, I was assured, will not answer me back. I will, however, be forever under their watchful eye and they will remind me of the more than 300,000 South Australians who were born overseas. These gifts that I value are a perfect reminder of the wonderful evening on which we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the arrival of Baltic communities in Australia. I am sure that members of the house will join me—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: For the information of the member for Stuart, that is the Baltic states, not the Balkan states. I am sure that members of the house will join with me in acknowledging everything the Baltic communities have done to make South Australia great and thank them for choosing to make South Australia their home.

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