Earlier this week, Labor announced that an elected Shorten Labor Government has plans to allocate close to $600,000 to support Melbourne’s Greek community.
The proposal was made public by Shadow Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus; Member for Hotham, Clare O’Neil; and Labor’s candidate for Wills, Peter Khalil.
“Greek Australians have given so much to Melbourne, including in the great suburbs of Oakleigh and Clayton that I represent,” said Ms O’Neil, adding that the funding “recognises the great contribution that Greek Australians make to our city.”
Mr Dreyfus expressed a similar sentiment, and recognised the funding as “significant” for the community, and that it “will provide substantial assistance to promote Greek Australian culture in our great city”, which is also continues to be home to the largest population of Greeks outside of Greece.
If Labor is able to deliver on their promise, the money will be put towards various projects, including the advanced Greek language and cultural course run by the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM); the Melbourne Greek Story exhibition at the Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture Gallery; and the publication of two non-fiction works on the history of Melbourne’s Greeks.
The funding will also ensure a feasibility study is undertaken into three key elements of Melbourne’s Greek presence, including the Lonsdale Street Festival, the Historic Lonsdale Street Greek Precinct and the GCM’s Greek Centre.