Apart from food and other festivities, Greek Australians have come to expect visits by politicians at the Lonsdale Street Greek Festival and last weekend was no exception.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison pulled out at the last minute, but opposition Labor leader Bill Shorten was there to walk around the stalls and address visitors to the fair. He thanked Greek Australians for their outstanding contribution to Australia and made three promises: 

My wife is sick today, but Clementine is representing us. She’s the hope of the side.

Kalispera Ellines!

I’d like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, and I’d like to acknowledge the traditional owners of Lonsdale Street, the Greek Australian community!

I just briefly want to say tonight, and I acknowledge all of our distinguished guests, including Kelly O’Dwyer representing the Prime Minister.

I’d like to acknowledge the hard work of (inaudible) and the whole team, you have done a fantastic job.

I am here tonight because I want to say thank you to the Greek Australian community.

The Greek Australian community always contributes and always will contribute. You are the essence of Australian values – thank you very much.

And very briefly after that I just want to promise this.

One, if we are elected at the next election we will fund community language schools so all the young people learn the language of their grandparents not just the language of Australia.

And to all of the pensioners here tonight, I want to say that if we are elected we are going to do some new and very good things for the pensioners of Australia and that includes everyone who is here who is a pensioner.

And finally, I want to make this promise that in the first week after the election, if Labor is elected, we will be contacting the British Government to ask them, to tell them, to return to Parthenon Marbles back to Greece.

So in conclusion, from my great friends Maria Vamvakinou and Peter Khalil, we say to every Greek Australian who is here, thank you very much, you are an outstanding contribution to Australia and I promise that whether or not I’m Leader of the Opposition or Prime Minister, I will be here next year to celebrate this Lonsdale Street Festival.

Zeeto Australia, Zeeto Ellas!