During a visit to Melbourne this week, Greece’s Ambassador to Australia Mr Charalambos Dafaranos reiterated Greece’s readiness to sign a Work and Holiday visa agreement with Australia.
His comments follow last month’s statements given to SBS by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Akis Gerontopoulos that Greece is waiting for Australia to deliver the documentation to Athens.
Whilst there have been false dawns in the past – with both sides inferring that it was the other’s bureaucracies holding up the process – the latest comments from Ambassador Dafaranos suggest a formal signing of the paperwork is in sight.
“Before the end of the [federal] pre-election period we notified DFAT about the conclusion of the negotiations, so now it is just the internal formalities from the part of the Australian side,” Mr Dafaranos told Neos Kosmos.
“It has been a round of negotiations from the Greek side involving not only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but three other ministries – Employment, Interior and Finance. You can imagine, it took some time…”
Mr Dafaranos said that he had conveyed the Greek government’s conclusion of its internal discussions – and its willingness for the agreement to be signed – to new Immigration Minister Scott Morrison.
Mr Dafaranos’ observations – coming on the back of Minister Gerontopoulos’ comments – suggest the Greek government wishes to end the long-running saga over the reciprocal visa arrangement.
The visa agreement will allow Greek and Australian citizens between 18 and 30 years of age to work in each other’s countries for a period of 12 months.
In May, Victorian Federal MP Maria Vamvakinou was told by Mr Gerontopoulos’ predecessor, Mr Kostas Tsiaras, that the Greek government would sign off the agreement by September.
Mr Dafaranos confirmed that the agreement will state that a maximum of 500 Work and Holiday Subclass 462 visas can be awarded per year.
The ambassador revealed that he had encouraged former Immigration Minister Chris Bowen to pursue an annual limit above that figure.
“When France has 8000 per year [granted by Australia], I think it’s important to have an increased number – which takes into consideration Greece’s population,” said Mr Dafaranos.
“The final agreement will include a figure capped at 500 per year, but the implementation of the agreement will give the opportunity to see how it works, and to improve it.”
Mr Dafaranos said that he wished to see greater awareness in Greece of opportunities offered by 457 visas under Australia’s Skilled Migration Program, which enables professionals to work temporarily in Australia.
Asked what progress had taken place in relation to a double taxation agreement between Greece and Australia, Mr Dafaranos indicated that whilst he had made representations to the Australian Treasury on the matter six months ago, a decision by them to pursue such an agreement was not imminent.
“I raised the issue and they told me that they will take it into consideration – but that a double taxation agreement pre-supposes a high level of investment and trade between the countries concerned,” said the ambassador, who added that the matter would continue to be raised in bilateral discussions between the two governments.