The latest utterance from the member for the federal seat of Cowan in Western Australia, Mr Luke Simpkins, in our federal parliament on Tuesday 17 March, 2015 is yet another example of this person’s ineptness, his promotion of irredentism in the Balkans, his blatant ignorance of history and his cheap attempt to gain ‘brownie points’ in his electorate and his superficial knowledge of the Balkans, including FYROM.

Time and again, Mr Simpkins has showcased himself as the court jester of historical facts, with his laughable and deplorable opportunism to appease those ‘supporting’ his security blanket, his blue-ribbon seat. And all this, contrary to Australia’s foreign policy, contrary to the bilateral policy of both our major parties, contrary to the United Nations, European Union and NATO rulings on the issue of the name of this Slavic state.

Mr Simpkins’ contention that “only” a few countries have not deleted the descriptors of the acronym FYROM to ‘Macedonia’ is indicative of how shallow he ‘evaluates’ circumstances. This is an artificial attempt to back his ‘argument’, as he is completely oblivious to the geo-political, diplomatic and social dynamics of the region.

Further abusing his parliamentary privilege, the clumsy Mr Simpkins once again engaged in ‘hate speech’, falsely claiming that “literally a handful of nationalists can exert such power as to control the foreign policy of this nation”.

He’s out of control; he’s taken too many ‘junkets’ to FYROM (at whose expense and hospitality, one wonders) and believes he has a reciprocating obligation to those ‘investing’ in such … excursions! The Greek Australian community, Mr Simpkins, is not a “handful of nationalists”, as you claim. The Greek Australian community has never provoked hatred, irredentism, expansionism and violence as those from FYROM have, time and again, in protest marches, in the media, in fora, in propaganda they distribute, most of which is swallowed by just a few ‘gullible’ politicians. The organised Greek Australian community has had enough of your bile, Mr Simpkins. Enough is enough.

As the peak representative umbrella of the organised Greek Australian community, the Australian Hellenic Council calls upon our prime minister, the Hon. Tony Abbott, to pull you into line with our foreign affairs policy on this most important issue.

Mr Simpkins, you have overstepped your mark once again! Your actions highlight that you do not operate democratically, rather you are beholden to your ‘lords’, whoever they may be.

* Peter Jasonides is state co-ordinator of the Australian Hellenic Council (Victoria).