The creation of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Greece Group will allow a “bipartisan approach to issue resolution by politicians of Greek background”, according to ALP member for Dandenong, John Pandazopoulos, who addressed the group’s launch.
“The group is made up of members of all political parties and we believe the support of non-Greek MPs is essential in issues of debate that are currently going on, like the national curriculum review and where Greek sits in this,” Mr Pandazopoulos told Neos Kosmos.
Greek members of the community now have a defined group they can approach with issues of concern, which did not exist before, Mr Pandazopoulos said.
“It’s about us working together and supporting the Greek community in issues of concern it has with any of our governments in Australia, whether it’s national, state or territory. It also allows us to work on issues of importance to Greece and Cyprus, whether it be national issues like building support around the Parthenon marbles or the resolution of the Cyprus issue,” he said.
Consul General for Greece, Vassilios Tolios, Oceania President of the Council of Hellenes Abroad, George Angelopoulos, Nationals member for Myall Lakes in NSW; John Turner and Nationals member for Upper Hunter; George Souris, all attended the group’s launch.
The launch was preceded by a formal meeting where John Turner and Labor MP Matthew Morris became co-Presidents. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the President of the Legislative Council were also in attendance to formally recognise ‘the Friends’ by the Parliament.
Mr Souris, a long-term member of the World Hellenic inter-parliamentary Association, told Neos Kosmos it was a great pleasure a NSW Parliamentary Friends of Greece group has been established alongside the Victorian Friends of Greece and Commonwealth Friends of Greece groups. “The importance of ‘the Friends’ is that whenever motions or matters of importance are open for debate there is a ready support group for matters affecting Greece,” Mr Souris said.
“As an elected member of the NSW Parliament and of Greek heritage I am proud to have been associated with the formation of ‘the Friends’.”
Mr Souris said from time to time the Friends will be involved in hosting official visitors and parliamentarians from Greece.
“We will of course become another institution in the rich fabric of Hellenic related organisations that make up our local Society here in NSW,” he said, adding “it is hoped that ‘the Friends’ will provide representation at the various cultural and community events held by the Greek community in the future”.
