The Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia (FPAA), the founding members of the Joint Justice Initiative (JJI) as well as partners from the Greek, Armenian, Assyrian communities have offered their thanks to the federal members of parliament whose unanimous support over the past 22 months led to the recent motion leading to the Australian government’s recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides.
The federal parliamentarians who were thanked included Trent Zimmerman MP who introduced the motion to parliament with fellow Liberal Party members John Alexander MP and Julian Leeser MP who spoke for the motion and who were supported by Opposition members Josh Burns MP, Steve Georganas MP and Joel Fitzgibbon MP, who seconded the motion.
The JJI was formed in February last year with support from the FPAA, the Australian Hellenic Council, the Armenian National Committee and the Assyrian National Committee and their respective communities to engage federal politicians on the issue of the genocides.
In that time, more than 40 Federal parliamentarians pledged their support for a national recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides.
The FPAA said in a statement: “This is the first of many steps that will be taken to finally place Australia on the right side of history. There can be only one outcome that will begin the healing process for the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek people – Genocide.
“The Australian Government now has a clear choice – to stand with its people, who have expressed their will through their elected representatives, or continue to deny the justice owed to the victims and their descendants of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides.”
