Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to visit Australia in early 2026, according to Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.
The two leaders met at Australia’s event Protecting Children in the Digital Age, held during High-Level Week of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Mitsotakis was accompanied by his wife, Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotaki, and Albanese by his partner, Jodie Haydon.
“I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Mitsotakis to Australia early next year as an official guest of the government,” Albanese told journalists in New York after the event.
“And I am confident that while he is there, we will engage further on this issue (protecting children in the digital age), because it is not a matter confined to Australia alone.”
Photo: DIMITRIS PAPAMITSOS/PM’s Press Office/EUROKINISSI
Minimum age for social media lauded by leaders
The Albanese government’s move to set a minimum age for social media use received the backing of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Greek prime minister.
From December 10, Australia will ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, with responsibility placed on technology companies to prevent access.
At the event, Emma Mason spoke about the death of her 15-year-old daughter Tilly, who took her own life after online bullying.
Social media can cause real harm to our kids, exposing them to risks and pressures they’re just not ready for.
Labor wants every child to get the best start in life, and that means supporting parents to keep them safe online.
That’s why we’re taking bold action, banning social… pic.twitter.com/qCdsao7Gtt
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) September 24, 2025
Describing it as a “death from bullying enabled by social media,” the mother and lawyer detailed the harassment Tilly suffered before the tragedy and explained what happened on the day she died.
“Police later confirmed that her phone history was filled with Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok videos related to suicide, death and mental illness.”
“This was a suicide due to bullying, but it was facilitated by social media.”
“Please hold my Tilly and all the lost children in your hearts.”
“Since she died … I have met many parents like me, because there were many ‘Tillys’ in society… Now I ask you to keep my Tilly and all the children we have lost in your hearts and do all you can to change the narrative across the world for their sake… because how many more ‘Tillys’ must die?”
Also read: Australia pitches social media age ban to world leaders
Social media ban called a bold decision by Von der Leyen
Von der Leyen said she was “inspired” by Australia’s “bold” decision to introduce the ban.
“It is obvious that this is simple common sense,” she said, noting that many European countries are moving to pass similar laws.
“As a mother of seven children and grandmother of five, I share their view,” she added. Albanese said he was “shaken.”
“The truth is our legislation is the direction the world is taking,” he said.
He praised Mason’s courage and efforts to bring the harms of social media to the forefront of the global conversation. He added that if he had the power to bestow Orders of Australia, “I would have walked onto the stage and given one to Emma on the spot.”
He praised Mason’s courage and efforts to bring the harms of social media to the forefront of the global conversation.
He added that if he had the power to bestow Orders of Australia, “I would have walked onto the stage and given one to Emma on the spot.”
In his speech, the prime minister noted that “we all value the benefits the internet has given us. However, we also know that despite the transformative benefits of connectivity, it poses risks to our children.”
He also acknowledged the work being done by the 36 Months initiative and News Corp’s Let Them Be Kids, through which, he said, he had the “humbling responsibility” of spending time “with parents who have felt the full, devastating impact social media can have.”
Στην εκδήλωση που διοργάνωσε η Αυστραλία, με θέμα «Protecting Children in the Digital Age», στο πλαίσιο της Εβδομάδας Υψηλού Επιπέδου της 80ής Γενικής Συνέλευσης των Ηνωμένων Εθνών, στη Νέα Υόρκη. https://t.co/wAlK9nBwbN pic.twitter.com/qmEMnPDyBj
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) September 24, 2025
Mitsotakis thanked Emma for sharing her story and stressed that, “it must have taken great courage to transform your personal pain into this very powerful call to action.”
Then he thanked Albanese “for your leadership on this issue.”
“I believe we will all watch very closely how you implement this important decision, which will have global ramifications.”
“If we know the evidence is overwhelming, then as leaders we clearly have to do something about it. First, we need to help parents, because this should not be their responsibility alone. I know how difficult it can be for a single parent to ask their child to disconnect from social media when everyone else is doing the same.”
He referred to measures already taken in Greece and said, “We are ready to take a step further and seriously consider banning social media use by setting a digital age of majority similar to what you have implemented.”
“As you pointed out, Prime Minister, it won’t be perfect, but we cannot cite implementation challenges as an excuse for inaction.”
“We have a responsibility not only to work with tech companies but also to make it clear who sets the rules. Tech companies make plenty of money; they do not need to profit from the vulnerability of our children.”
Commenting on the event and the Albanese–Mitsotakis meeting, Australia’s ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, wrote on LinkedIn:
“Australia and Greece are taking global leadership on the need to protect children from online harms … Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Kyriakos Mitsotakis met at the United Nations in New York to discuss measures for child safety in the digital age. It’s wonderful to be working with Greece on this important issue.”
Mitsotakis to visit Australia
Mitsotakis’s had also been invited in 2022 by Albanese, during a dinner on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Madrid, but the trip did not take place despite various dates circulating publicly.
Last November, Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, extended an invitation for the Greek prime minister to visit the state. The letter was delivered to Mitsotakis by Bill Papastergiadis, president of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM). Now with the invite from Albanese at the UN in New York, it may become a reality.
