“Dad had his wallet and two photos,” he says.

Last week,he shared his story with parliament’s upper house during his maiden speech:“Some say it is the challenges in your life that shape who you are. I believe it is the love of family and those around you because I am blessed with two loving parents who sacrificed their lives so I could have a brighter future.”

From a refugee camp in Malaysia,Luu andhis family were eventually granted refuge in Australia at the end of 1979. After chasing work in Sydney and Adelaide,Luu’s father,an artist turned soldier,found work at Holeproof factory in Box Hill,prompting the family to settle in Melbourne’s east.

Taunted as a “nip” at school and unable to speak fluent English,Luu said he grew up believing jobs like law,journalism and politics were out of reach for people like him. Instead,he focused on maths and science,and spent his days playing soccer and cricket in an attempt to fit in.

“It’s not right,but that’s the way it was at the time. There was a lack of understanding,of education,and time. You have to adapt,and defend yourself and speak up ... they are survival skills.”

Luu graduated from Blackburn High School and studied civil engineering at RMIT,before defying his parents and joining Victoria Police.

He spent 28 years in the force,serving in various roles including as a forensic investigation crime scene officer and Vietnamese-community liaison officer. He also spent 19 years in the Army Reserve and more recently,time as a Brimbank councillor.

Luu said his experiences have shaped his approach to policy. Within the Liberal Party,he is considered a social conservative.

But he believes Australia is a large enough country to consider boosting the number of refugees it accepts,although he supports strict border measures.

“Our country has plenty of room,but there has to be a process,” he said.

“We don’t want to encourage people to risk their lives and do anything to encourage people smugglers.”

Luu’s recent election win comes asthe number of state MPs from Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds fell after the November poll. According to the latest census data,Asian-born Australians accounted for more than 10 per cent of the total population,but Luu is the first MP of Vietnamese descent to represent the Liberal Party in state or federal parliament.

His victory is a rare bright spot for the Liberal Party,which is facing pressure to urgently diversify after itsrecent election review into the 2022 federal election loss described the need for more diverse candidates and members as an “electoral imperative”.

Luu,who was appointed as the Coalition’s multicultural affairs spokesman,is critical of his own party’s failure to recruit MPs from Australia’s thriving multicultural communities,but he is confident times are changing.

“It’s slowly changing,but you need to be in the seat to drive the bus. There is no use people being a backseat driver,” Luu said.

“People like me are speaking up. You need people who represent the community.”

But the father of five doesn’t want special treatment.

“If we are seeking equality,it is equal opportunity for all. No individual and no group or race should have more privilege,resources or rights over another,regardless of their status,” he told parliament.

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