As Victoria’s political parties fiercely hit the election campaign trail, the Liberals have come all guns blazing with a number of pledges focused on the Greek Australian community.
Among them is the proposal of an independent inquiry into the taxi licence saga since the legalisation of Uber, which has impacted the livelihoods of a number of taxi licence owners.
If Matthew Guy is elected, the inquiry will look into Premier Daniel Andrews’ handling of taxi license compensation and the appointment of Jeff Kennett as head of Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria.
Meanwhile, in a bid to strengthen the sister city relationship between Melbourne and Thessaloniki and facilitate tighter business relationships between Victoria, Greece and the Balkans, the Liberals will look to establish a Victorian Government Business Office in Thessaloniki.
If successfully elected, the party has also made an “unequivocal pledge” to re-zone the Greek Community of Melbourne’s land in Bulleen, and to provide Pronia with $150,000 for a new 25 seat mini-bus.
“Melbourne and Victoria are home to hundreds of thousands of people of Hellenic descent, who are proud of their heritage, and who have made an enormous contribution to our state,” said Mr Guy.
“A government I lead will always stand side by side with Victoria’s Hellenic community, and will endeavour to provide whatever support we can to foster in the continuation of Hellenic culture and heritage in Victoria.”