Tsebin Tchen
Encyclopedia
Tsebin Tchen (born 10 March 1940) is a former Liberal
member of the Australian Senate
from 1999 to 2005, representing the state of Victoria
.
Tchen was born in Chungking, wartime capital of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War
(more commonly known amongst Chinese as the War of Resistance). His father was then a junior diplomat with the Chinese Government and was posted overseas when Tchen was two years old. Tchen followed his father to various postings and never returned to China to live, except for two years (1954–56) in Taiwan
, where the Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-Shek
had fled after losing the mainland in the Chinese Civil War
. His father continued to represent the Republic of China
government until 1975 when he retired to live with Tchen in Australia. In 1958, Tchen gained a student visa to Australia to study, at that time the only way for Asians to enter Australia due to the White Australia Policy
. Eventually, he obtained a master degree in town planning at Sydney University.
From 1966, Tchen worked as a New South Wales
government town planner in Sydney. In the meantime, Harold Holt
succeeded Robert Menzies
as Prime Minister and altered the immigration law to allow Asian migration—to prevent it was the main purpose of the White Australia Policy; it was officially repudiated by Gough Whitlam
when he became Prime Minister in 1972. After weighing up his choices, Tchen decided to remain in Australia, and gained citizenship in 1971.
Tchen was interested in Australia history and had come to the view that one of the factors that brought about the anti-Chinese attitude in Australia that culminated in the White Australia Policy, was the often self-imposed isolation of the earlier Chinese community. In 1972, he joined the Liberal Party of Australia
, and became active in Melbourne's Chinese community after moving there to work in 1973. At the 1993 election, Tchen was preselected on the Liberal Senate ticket for Victoria, in the unwinnable fourth position. In 1993, there was no surprise, however, though by gaining that fourth spot, Tchen did achieve a first of some kind by being the first Asian migrant to be endorsed by either major party in Australian politics at a national election. Tchen made another run for pre-selection in 1998, at the height of the Pauline Hanson
controversy, and this time, was successful.
However, in order to gain preselection, Tchen had to replace a sitting Senator, Karen Synon
. Despite being already in the Senate, she was demoted to the fourth position Tchen had in 1993—a rare event in Australian politics. Although a political myth has grown up around this episode, that Tchen had succeeded by gaining the support of then-Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett
, who publicly backed him to replace Synon, in fact Kennett's public support only came after Tchen had won preselection. This was probably a blessing in disguise as Kennett had a dismal record of supporting successful candidates for preselection at a Federal level. Nevertheless, there was little doubt that Kennett had preferred Tchen over Synon, and this sparked a major factional dispute within the party, as the Federal Treasurer Peter Costello
and Michael Kroger
, a Liberal powerbroker, and both sworn Synon supporters, attempted to fend off Tchen's challenge. When the preselection was held, Tchen proved successful by a comfortable margin and in due course, after a rather more strenuous effort in the election itself, became the first Asian migrant to win a seat in either house of the federal parliament.
In spite of his rather turbulent introduction, Tchen performed quietly in parliament. He served on a large number of committees, performed electoral duties energetically, and on the floor of the senate was often seen but more rarely heard. He was a strong advocate of multiculturalism but with a forcefully positive approach: with the emphasis on seeking common purposes rather than identifying differences, and of demanding acceptance rather than just tolerance. As chair of the government members' policy committee on immigration and multicultural affairs between 2000 and 2004, an elected rather than a nominated position, Tchen had an unpublicised, but nevertheless of some influence, role to play as Australia tried to grapple with the vexing issues of asylum seekers and boat people
.
In December 2003, Tchen stood for preselection for a second term in the Senate. However, despite the support of Prime Minister John Howard
, Tchen lost a closely fought battle and suffered the same fate as his predecessor, being dumped in favor of former lower house MP Michael Ronaldson
. Tchen declined the offer of the fourth spot and did not stand at the 2004 election. He retired from the Senate when his term expired on 30 June 2005.
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
from 1999 to 2005, representing the state of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
Tchen was born in Chungking, wartime capital of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
(more commonly known amongst Chinese as the War of Resistance). His father was then a junior diplomat with the Chinese Government and was posted overseas when Tchen was two years old. Tchen followed his father to various postings and never returned to China to live, except for two years (1954–56) in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, where the Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-Shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
had fled after losing the mainland in the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
. His father continued to represent the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
government until 1975 when he retired to live with Tchen in Australia. In 1958, Tchen gained a student visa to Australia to study, at that time the only way for Asians to enter Australia due to the White Australia Policy
White Australia policy
The White Australia policy comprises various historical policies that intentionally restricted "non-white" immigration to Australia. From origins at Federation in 1901, the polices were progressively dismantled between 1949-1973....
. Eventually, he obtained a master degree in town planning at Sydney University.
From 1966, Tchen worked as a New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
government town planner in Sydney. In the meantime, Harold Holt
Harold Holt
Harold Edward Holt, CH was an Australian politician and the 17th Prime Minister of Australia.His term as Prime Minister was brought to an early and dramatic end in December 1967 when he disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach near Portsea, Victoria, and was presumed drowned.Holt spent 32 years...
succeeded Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
as Prime Minister and altered the immigration law to allow Asian migration—to prevent it was the main purpose of the White Australia Policy; it was officially repudiated by Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
when he became Prime Minister in 1972. After weighing up his choices, Tchen decided to remain in Australia, and gained citizenship in 1971.
Tchen was interested in Australia history and had come to the view that one of the factors that brought about the anti-Chinese attitude in Australia that culminated in the White Australia Policy, was the often self-imposed isolation of the earlier Chinese community. In 1972, he joined the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
, and became active in Melbourne's Chinese community after moving there to work in 1973. At the 1993 election, Tchen was preselected on the Liberal Senate ticket for Victoria, in the unwinnable fourth position. In 1993, there was no surprise, however, though by gaining that fourth spot, Tchen did achieve a first of some kind by being the first Asian migrant to be endorsed by either major party in Australian politics at a national election. Tchen made another run for pre-selection in 1998, at the height of the Pauline Hanson
Pauline Hanson
Pauline Lee Hanson is an Australian politician and former leader of Pauline Hanson's One Nation, a political party with a populist and anti-multiculturalism platform...
controversy, and this time, was successful.
However, in order to gain preselection, Tchen had to replace a sitting Senator, Karen Synon
Karen Synon
Karen Margaret Synon was an Australian Senator for the state of Victoria. Synon was appointed to the Senate on 13 May 1997 as a result of Jim Short's resignation, however she was defeated at the 1998 election and her term ended on 30 June 1999.-References:*...
. Despite being already in the Senate, she was demoted to the fourth position Tchen had in 1993—a rare event in Australian politics. Although a political myth has grown up around this episode, that Tchen had succeeded by gaining the support of then-Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
, who publicly backed him to replace Synon, in fact Kennett's public support only came after Tchen had won preselection. This was probably a blessing in disguise as Kennett had a dismal record of supporting successful candidates for preselection at a Federal level. Nevertheless, there was little doubt that Kennett had preferred Tchen over Synon, and this sparked a major factional dispute within the party, as the Federal Treasurer Peter Costello
Peter Costello
Peter Howard Costello AC is an Australian politician and lawyer who served as the Treasurer in the Australian government from 1996 to 2007. He is the longest-serving Treasurer in Australian history. Costello was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1990 to 2009, representing...
and Michael Kroger
Michael Kroger
Michael Norman Kroger is a businessman and a powerbroker within the Victorian division of the Liberal Party of Australia. He was educated at Wesley College, Melbourne.-Early Life :...
, a Liberal powerbroker, and both sworn Synon supporters, attempted to fend off Tchen's challenge. When the preselection was held, Tchen proved successful by a comfortable margin and in due course, after a rather more strenuous effort in the election itself, became the first Asian migrant to win a seat in either house of the federal parliament.
In spite of his rather turbulent introduction, Tchen performed quietly in parliament. He served on a large number of committees, performed electoral duties energetically, and on the floor of the senate was often seen but more rarely heard. He was a strong advocate of multiculturalism but with a forcefully positive approach: with the emphasis on seeking common purposes rather than identifying differences, and of demanding acceptance rather than just tolerance. As chair of the government members' policy committee on immigration and multicultural affairs between 2000 and 2004, an elected rather than a nominated position, Tchen had an unpublicised, but nevertheless of some influence, role to play as Australia tried to grapple with the vexing issues of asylum seekers and boat people
Boat people
Boat people is a term that usually refers to refugees, illegal immigrants or asylum seekers who emigrate in numbers in boats that are sometimes old and crudely made...
.
In December 2003, Tchen stood for preselection for a second term in the Senate. However, despite the support of Prime Minister John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
, Tchen lost a closely fought battle and suffered the same fate as his predecessor, being dumped in favor of former lower house MP Michael Ronaldson
Michael Ronaldson
Michael John Clyde Ronaldson is an Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 2005, representing the state of Victoria....
. Tchen declined the offer of the fourth spot and did not stand at the 2004 election. He retired from the Senate when his term expired on 30 June 2005.