On July 22, 1951, 19 delegates of 14 Latvian associations, congregations and professional groups founded the Latvian central organization – the Latvian Association in Australia (LAA). LAA was established and operated as a union of organisations, it had no individual members, and Australian Latvians participated in its work or leadership elections as delegates of member organisations. The LAA statutes included the following goals: to promote the cooperation of Latvian organisations in Australia in the field of public, cultural and aid and to promote the preservation, creation and implementation of Latvian culture and national ideas. In 1972, the Latvian Association of New Zealand joined the LAA, so it was renamed the Latvian Association in Australia and New Zealand (LAAJ). At the general meeting of LAA delegates in 1955, the Latvian Central Archive of Australia (ALCA) was established.

In general, Latvian exiles in Western countries overcame the difficulties of the refugee era, settled and established themselves in their new home countries, and also founded and strengthened their public organisations. They urged Western governments to continue the policy of non-recognition of the legality of the occupation and annexation of the Baltic states by the USSR.

The fact that most exiled Latvians settled in democratic Western countries was important. As Baltic political refugees were more actively involved in the processes of creating national organisations than other immigrant groups, many strong public organisations with a national political orientation quickly emerged. As they grouped and cooperated with each other, it was revealed that these organisations were capable of seriously influencing the democratic political developments of their new host countries. First, the exiles developed contacts with members of the parliaments of the home countries, later – with the representatives of the governments.

In Australia, 5-10 years after the arrival of Baltic refugees, there were thousands of Baltic voters, active lobbying work began, first among members of parliament, and later also in the government. In practically all countries where there was a significant Baltic community, regional organisations were also established, which united representatives of Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian central organisations. Such a regional organisation was also the Baltic Council of Australia. The organisation HELLP (Help Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian People) was founded in Australia at a protest meeting in Hobart in 1974, and over time it transformed into a Baltic political cooperation organisation in Tasmania and was more or less active in the political field until the restoration of Latvia’s independence and continued to exist for several more years after that. The activities of the so-called Kersten Committee, established by the US Congress in 1954, also expanded outside the US, and witnesses (who testified about the USSR’s occupation of the Baltic States) were also heard from other countries, such as Australia, Canada and Germany.

In Australia, Captive Nations Week events were regularly held in the last week of July, but as July is the middle of winter in Australia, in 1972 the Captive Nations Week was moved to spring, or September, and various events took place from September 9 to 24. Captive Nations Week was marked with events in major Australian cities. In Sydney, there was a traditional procession and wreath-laying at the monument to the fallen soldiers, as well as a ceremonial opening. In Melbourne, a car ride with posters was organised through the city, as well as a meeting. In other years, the program of the event was similar. On July 22, 1951, 19 delegates of 14 Latvian associations, congregations and professional groups founded the Latvian central organization – the Latvian Association in Australia (LAA). LAA was established and operated as a union of organisations, it had no individual members, and Australian Latvians participated in its work or leadership elections as delegates of member organisations. The LAA statutes included the following goals: to promote the cooperation of Latvian organisations in Australia in the field of public, cultural and aid and to promote the preservation, creation and implementation of Latvian culture and national ideas. In 1972, the Latvian Association of New Zealand joined the LAA, so it was renamed the Latvian Association in Australia and New Zealand (LAAJ). At the general meeting of LAA delegates in 1955, the Latvian Central Archive of Australia (ALCA) was established.

In general, Latvian exiles in Western countries overcame the difficulties of the refugee era, settled and established themselves in their new home countries, and also founded and strengthened their public organisations. They urged Western governments to continue the policy of non-recognition of the legality of the occupation and annexation of the Baltic states by the USSR. The fact that most exiled Latvians settled in democratic Western countries was important. As Baltic political refugees were more actively involved in the processes of creating national organisations than other immigrant groups, many strong public organisations with a national political orientation quickly emerged. As they grouped and cooperated with each other, it was revealed that these organisations were capable of seriously influencing the democratic political developments of their new host countries. First, the exiles developed contacts with members of the parliaments of the home countries, later – with the representatives of the governments.

In Australia, 5-10 years after the arrival of Baltic refugees, there were thousands of Baltic voters, active lobbying work began, first among members of parliament, and later also in the government. In practically all countries where there was a significant Baltic community, regional organisations were also established, which united representatives of Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian central organisations. Such a regional organisation was also the Baltic Council of Australia. The organisation HELLP (Help Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian People) was founded in Australia at a protest meeting in Hobart in 1974, and over time it transformed into a Baltic political cooperation organisation in Tasmania and was more or less active in the political field until the restoration of Latvia’s independence and continued to exist for several more years after that. The activities of the so-called Kersten Committee, established by the US Congress in 1954, also expanded outside the US, and witnesses (who testified about the USSR’s occupation of the Baltic States) were also heard from other countries, such as Australia, Canada and Germany. The social activity and position of Latvian and Baltic exiles became most active after the government led by the leader of the Australian Labour Party, Edward Gough Whitlam, changed the policy of non-recognition of occupation of the Baltic States and removed the Honorary Consulate of Latvia in Melbourne from the list of the consular corps on August 3, 1974.

Due to the decision of the Whitlam government, exile organisations in Australia and elsewhere in the world implemented two lines of action: attracting attention to the issue of the Baltic States, informing the Australian public and turning the largest possible masses against the government’s decision; and inviting Balts to address their demands and questions to members of the government and the Senate. The anger of the Baltic exiles and many Australians was understandable. Spontaneous demonstrations against the Whitlam government’s decision began around the world. Protest marches including torchlight marches, a ladies’ march, placard demonstrations and protest meetings were held in major Australian cities. One of the most impressive protest actions took place on August 9, when around 15,000 Baltics participated in large street demonstrations in the three largest Australian cities – Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.

On September 18, 1974, after a Baltic demonstration in front of the Federal Parliament in Canberra, the Australian Senate expressed no confidence in Australian Foreign Minister Donald Willessee. The minister criticised the considerable influence of the Baltic exiles in Australian political life due to their struggle for the restoration of the de facto recognition of the Baltic States. For the first time, the Parliament of a western country debated the question of the Baltic States for seven hours. During the debate, the minister had to explain himself, and he indirectly gave his assessment of the impact and good organisation of the Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian protests: “Can the Australian government allow one of its separate national groups to dictate government policy?” The vote of no confidence was not of significant importance, since the majority of the Government was in the House of Representatives. The Whitlam government had anticipated possible protests by exile organisations but had greatly underestimated them. Perhaps the relatively quiet and politically quiet life of the Baltics in Australia contributed to the formation of such an opinion. The Australian mass media paid a lot of attention to the protests. Exiles submitted protest petitions to the Senate and Parliament, and to politicians in general, expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s decision and demanding its withdrawal. Cooperation with the opposition gained special importance. It became clear that the cancellation of the decision would only be possible with the opposition coming to power. The Baltic exiles, with their protests, succeeded in mobilising broad masses both in Australia and abroad against the decision of de iure recognition. As a result of this and domestic political crises, the Governor-General of Australia dismissed the Whitlam government on 11 November 1975. New parliamentary elections were held on December 13, 1975. In their election programmes, the opposition parties also included a promise to withdraw the decision of recognition de iure incorporation of the Baltic states. In the December 13 election, the coalition of the Liberals and the National Rural Party led by Malcolm Fraser won an unprecedented majority in both houses of parliament.

On December 17, 1975, a telegram was sent to the Australian ambassador in Moscow, prohibiting further official visits to the Baltic States and described how the withdrawal of the opinion on the incorporation of the Baltic States was to be carried out. On December 19, the Honorary Consul of Latvia in Melbourne, Robert Galbraith Makomas (McComas), had his consular rights restored and his name was returned to the list of the Consular Corps in Melbourne, of which the Consul was informed accordingly. Australia’s new Foreign Minister, Andrew Sharp Peacock, announced that with these two steps, the de iure recognition of the incorporation of the Baltic states is considered withdrawn. The new government resumed the de facto recognition of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The Baltic exiles had achieved a unique success. The de iure withdrawal of recognition, which was not caused by changes in the existing status quo, is a unique case in the practice of international law and has no direct counterparts. The previously unprecedented political activism of the Baltic exiles on an Australian scale was of great importance. This was a case when the activities of the exiles significantly helped the legal status of the Republic of Latvia and its foreign service. The victory was also a huge moral satisfaction for the entire Baltic exile community. These protest activities proved that the issue of the Baltic States was still important for the exiled Baltic community and that they had not given up hope of regaining the independence of their countries and were ready to actively politically defend the idea of an independent Baltic state. In 1976, Australia had a Baltic community of around 60,000 people, which was also supported by other exile groups from Central and Southern Europe.