The first generation of Greeks arrived in Victoria in search of a better future. They were young. They had an adventurous spirit and were keen to build a new life in a, then, unknown continent very far away from their homeland.

They arrived here in search of economic opportunity and they hoped they would soon go back to their families, their villages, their friends and their homes.
In the beginning, they opened restaurants, coffee shops, and confectioneries. Some became farmers and others pressed further into the continent finding work in factories, in the mines or the railroads.

Wherever they went, they organised communities that kept alive their ancient language, culture and religion. They built churches and community halls and worked hard to keep a strong bond with the motherland. They endured great hardships but they struggled to win acceptance and respect in a multicultural environment that was hard to comprehend and win over.

Today, they belong to the mainstream of Australian society and they are proud of their achievements. Sometimes, we take their achievements for granted, but their contributions have been significant. Their influence appears in every corner of the continent and is aided by the achievements of outstanding Greek Australians from all walks of life. Politicians, scientists, businessmen and entrepreneurs, teachers and professors, artists and writers, film directors and actors, sports men and women, chefs and fashion designers, just to name a few.

If the Greek influence was suddenly erased from Australia, we would find ourselves in a totally different landscape, without democracy, without individualism and sciences, without classic architecture and arts, without the basis of rational thinking and philosophy, without comic and tragic theatre and therefore cinema and, of course, without healthy and tasty Greek food.
The Greeks brought cultural diversity and richness to Australia. They worked very hard and even fought under the Australian flag for democracy and freedom.

Australia offered them in return, a new homeland of vast natural recourses and a strong economy, nurtured by a political system free of aged-old class antagonisms. Australia soon became a new, warm home for all those Greek immigrants, who crossed the oceans searching for a better future.
Today, many decades later, Greek identity is still present in Victoria. The recent census provides high figures for those who speak the Greek language in their homes and retain their religious and cultural identity. At the same time, we all applaud diversity and acceptance. We are proud of the new generation of Greek Australians, many of them present here tonight, who show respect to their cultural identity and take the lead of the Greek-Australian Community, while having successfully adapted to their new environment.

They keep very close bonds with their motherland and their places of origin. They travel often with their families to Greece and care a great deal about their homeland.
It would be remiss of me not to say something – very briefly – about Europe’s sovereign debt and banking crisis. We are indeed at a defining moment for the European economy and for European integration. During the past two and a half years, the European Union has enacted important financial, fiscal and structural reforms. However, amidst ongoing tensions, the economic recovery remains at risk. In a broader view, this crisis in not only Greek or European. It is a global crisis simply because International economies are closely linked and inter connected.

But, Greece has been repeatedly presented as deeply mired in debt and ready to skirt with the prospect of bankruptcy and default. There is no doubt that these kind of views, often reproduced and over exaggerated by media, are creating a very negative impression for the Greek people in Australia. The truth though is very different. Greece is confronting the crisis with the help of its EU partners and in our recent elections the people have spoken clearly in favour of making the necessary sacrifices in order to remain in the European family and the euro zone.
The newly elected Greek Government consists of a tripartite coalition of pro-European parties who is implementing an Economic Adjustment Program with the aim to improve its macroeconomic outlook and achieve fiscal adjustment, while addressing reforms for growth and job creation.

We are dedicated to restore confidence and keep Greece in the euro zone and the EU, where it rightly belongs for many decades now. The Greek people are making significant sacrifices towards achieving these goals and they are suffering tremendously from the austerity measures implemented in order to overcome the crisis. They need to be praised and not scorned or condemned. Their efforts have produced important results, such as the significant reduction of the debt or the fact that the economy has regained in the past year more than 50 per cent of its competitiveness towards its trade partners.
Let me assure all of you that Greece will make it. We will overcome the obstacles and nurse our country back to growth and prosperity.

But we first have to fight and reverse all those negative stereotypes that are raising eyebrows on both sides. For example, false figures and numbers are recently referring to a new Greek migrant wave to Australia that is huge and no welcomed by an Australian xenophobic bureaucracy that is using all its power to detain, terrify and deport those arriving to the continent. This is far from the truth however. The numbers of Greeks arriving here are significantly less and therefore should not cause much concern to Australians. And they are insignificant if compared to other EU member’s citizens. Reality is, Greeks seek out European destinations as their primary working choice, for instance around 28.000 moved to Germany in 2012.

This is due to the fact that they are closer to their homeland and free to live and work there without any need to apply for working visas or working permits. Therefore, Australia cannot be expected to suffer, in realistic terms, of any Greek illegal migrant influx and will not do so in the near future. On the contrary, Greece and Australia share same challenges as far as it concerns issues of illegal immigration and asylum seekers. They are working together towards the same goals in International Fora and Organizations.
At the same time, there are a great number of citizens of dual citizenship that are freely moving between our countries, if they wish so.

In the past, Greece has welcomed more than 100.000 Greek Australian who repatriated and none can stop this tide turning. They enjoy dual citizenship and are a strong bond of friendship between the two countries. We all wish to retain this human communication. At the same time, the great majority of visiting Greeks in Victoria, or those applying for work or study visas respect the Australian law and the extremely strict rules of the Australian immigration system.
I am very pleased that there is bipartisanship on these issues about Greece between the political leaders in Australia both on a federal and state level. They appreciate the contribution of the Greek Australians to what has become the Australia of today.

The leader of the Federal Opposition Mr Tony Abbot has recently announced that he wishes to facilitate better arrangements for Greeks who come to work in Australia and he is willing to give people from Greece every opportunity to make a new contribution to Australia. We welcome these kind of positive positions and remarks that express the existing political will to support Greece and its people during these difficult times.
I think that it would be useful if we clarify a few things. The commencement of negotiations with Greece in regard to establishing a reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangement for the Youth is long due and will only provide benefits for both countries. This Agreement is not related to migration issues and has nothing to do with working permits or permanent residency.
This Agreement, when concluded and signed, shall apply to young people up to the age of 30.

And It would certainly make it easier for Greek and Australian Youth to travel to and work in the other country, an arrangement both countries have with many other counties. The most recent example being the Agreement signed by Greece and Canada in 2011. Australia has similar Agreements signed with 17 European Union members, Cyprus included. Therefore, it is normal for us to expect that Greek youth can benefit from travelling to and working in Australia at the same level and on similar terms with our other EU countries’ young people and that young Australians can benefit from travelling to and working to Greece the same way they do today in Ireland, France, Italy, Germany and Cyprus, only to name a few. This is a positive step long due.

This is why, I would like to express our will to move forward and assure Minister Bowen that we value the excellent relationship we share together. The conclusion of this Agreement will empower Youth to broaden their horizons and develop a better understanding of each other’s cultures. The Australian youth will certainly benefit, because they will be allowed to stay longer in Greece and experience life in a European country with history, traditions and a close connection to Australia.

This is also going to benefit the Greek youth, because it will allow them to broaden their horizons and obtain experiences that will enhance their personal and professional development, giving them a competitive edge in the job market. They will both then, return home full of positive experiences and new ideas for the benefit of our countries.
Youth is the most precious part of our societies because it represents our future. Let us give our young people the opportunity to build stronger bridges of friendship between our countries and a better future for us all.

Let us not forget what cynic philosopher Diogenes once said: “The foundation of every State is the education of its Youth”.
Let us all give the Greek and Australian Youth the chance to mature and enhance their social, cultural and geographical education by the experience of travelling. They will then build stronger foundations for the Greek and Australian States for the future.
*This is an edited version of the speech the Consul General of Greece Mrs E. Lianidou on the youth working holiday visa agreement between Greece and Australia delivered on September 28th, 2012