Freedom of speech prevails in Australian society as Prime Minister Julia Gillard tells Neos Kosmos political parties such as Golden Dawn will not be “muzzled in Australia”, even though she was quick to point out that there is “no place for that kind of politics in our nation”.
At the Antipodes Festival for a second consecutive year, Ms Gillard was asked whether or not the Federal Government would allow the alleged 18 Golden Dawn MPs entry visas into Australia. She replied that every individual is checked before they are allowed entry into Australia.
“We have freedom of speech and even people who have got the most repugnant views are not muzzled in Australia, but if they do come with repugnant views then we certainly call it for what it is as there is no place for that kind of politics in our nation,” she tells Neos Kosmos.
When asked about the future of Modern Greek, given that Asian languages have been given a boost by the Federal Government to the detriment of European languages, Ms Gillard said:
“I do think it is important that every child gets the opportunity to study an Asian language because so much of our economic future is going to be in Asia.
“But that doesn’t have to displace the study of European languages and we’ve been very clear at the National Curriculum that we do want to encourage the study of Greek as well as other European languages. So I think there is plenty of space.”
As for the Work and Holiday visa agreement between Greece and Australia, she said although she can’t give a specific date on when this will be finalised, the government was working hard on trying to facilitate this agreement. The Work and Holiday visas “are a great way of having people coming here from Greece and having young Australians to go there.”