Independent Dai Le dons Australian flag outfit as she details family’s arrival from Vietnam in powerful speech to parliament

Independent MP Dai Le stood proudly in an ensemble with the Australian flag printed across it as she detailed her family’s escape from war-torn Vietnam in an emotional maiden speech to parliament on Monday. 

Ms Le, who sensationally defeated Labor’s Kristina Keneally at the Federal Election in the western Sydney seat of Fowler, choked up as she told the House of Representatives of the moment she thought she would “die” during the gruelling journey. 

Wearing a blue dress featuring the Union Jack and stars, she spoke of the moment her mother and sisters fled Vietnam following the fall of Saigon in 1975 when she was just seven years old.

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“My mother was forced to flee with my two younger sisters, escaping communism,” she said.

“I remember running with my mother and two younger sisters, scrambling to make our way onto a boat and pushing through the cries and screams of women and children.

“I remember the moment when I thought we would die when a huge storm hit our boat.”

Ms Le then paused to compose herself after becoming visibly emotional.

“I remember by sister and I hanging on to our dear life, while my mother held my other sister tightly in her arms with rosary beads praying,” she said.

The independent went on to use her family’s story to praise the “freedom” and “endless possibilities” experienced in Australia.

“I remember the moment when we were accepted to be resettled as refugees in Australia,” she said.

“And remembering as we stepped out of Kingsford Smith Airport, the feeling of gratitude and freedom.

“We were filled with hope as we looked out on to the horizons of endless possibilities.”

Ms Le’s speech comes after the government lifted the permanent migration cap intake to almost 200,000 this financial year to address the nation’s critical jobs and skills shortages.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil made the announcement at the opening of the second and final day of the government’s Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra on Friday.

Ms Le welcomed the announcement but said it was the responsibility of the government to ensure migrants thrive upon arrival.

“We cannot simply increase migration and then let these new migrants to fend for themselves in a foreign country, leaving them feeling marginalised and demonised,” she said.

“It is the responsibility of government to ensure systems and plans are in place to enable a productive, cohesive and connected society.”