Young people from Greece and Australia are a step closer to having the opportunity to visit and work in each other’s countries, with the signing of a reciprocal Work and Holiday visa arrangement in Canberra on Wednesday.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), as the agreement is called, was signed by Australia’s Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison and by visiting Tourism Minister of Greece Olga Kefalogianni.
However, before it comes into effect the agreement between Australia and Greece needs to be ratified by the Greek Parliament. This is expected to happen within the next few months.
“This arrangement, when brought into effect, will enable up to 500 young adults from Greece and 500 young adults from Australia to enjoy a holiday in each other’s country, during which they may engage in short-term work and study,” Scott Morrison said, on behalf of the government of Australia.
According to Mr Morisson, if this arrangement which targets 18 to 30 years old people for a period of up to one year, proves to be a success, then, it might be expanded even further.
Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Michaelia Cash, said over the coming months, both countries would be working closely together to implement the necessary legal and administrative processes to bring this visa into effect.
Olga Kefalogianni on her part acknowledged that the signing of the agreement is the end result of the consistent efforts of the Greek Australian community during the last two years, and went on to state that this memorandum will bring the two friendly countries even closer together.
The one-year Work and Holiday visa differs from a working holiday visa as it requires applicants to have the support of their government, hold or be studying towards tertiary qualifications and to speak functional English.
Other countries to have signed a reciprocal Work and Holiday (subclass 462) agreement with Australia include Poland, Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, USA and Uruguay.
The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, Fronditha Care, the Australian Greek Welfare Society, Labor federal MP Maria Vamvakinou, former Labor federal MP Steve Georganas, former minister of Immigration Chris Bowen who announced the initiative for the first time in August 2012, Neos Kosmos and others were some of the organisations and people involved in the campaign to sign this agreement.
The Melbourne Friendship Society of the Greek Communist Party denounced the signing of the M.O.U., saying that it will not help resolve the issue of youth unemployment.
The signing of the Work and Holiday visa agreement was part of a week-long visit to Australia of the Minister of Tourism of Greece Olga Kefalogiannis.
Ms Kefalogianni was in Melbourne on Tuesday, where she attended a working breakfast hosted by the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI), and met tour operators and the Premier of Victoria Dr Denis Napthine at the Hellenic Museum. The Minister of Tourism also met with the leadership of the Victorian parliaments and Greek Australian state MPs as well as representatives of the Board of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria and the leadership of the Cretan Community.
It is worth noting that at the HACCI breakfast in Melbourne Ms Kefalogianni when asked about the issue of signing a double taxation agreement with Australia in order to avoid paying taxes in both countries, responded by saying that the Greek government is ready to deal with the issue and it is awaiting for an Australian response.
Australia has double taxation agreements with dozens of countries, including Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, UK, USA and others.
While in Canberra Ms Kefalogianni met with Greek Australian federal MPs and Senators, attended a function at the Greek Embassy and visited the Hellenic Club.
The Australian trip of the Greek Minister of Tourism closed with a visit to Sydney where Ms Kefalogianni met with tour operators, Archbishop Stylianos, Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Tourism Minister Andrew Stoner and the Lord Mayor of Sydney Ms Clover Moor.
In all of her meetings Olga Kefalogianni highlighted the advantages and the commercial incentives of Greece as a tourist destination for Australians throughout the year and stressed the investment opportunities that now exist in her country.
