An editorial published on the Neos Kosmos website on Thursday calling for Greek Australians to vote Yes in the upcoming referendum on the First Nations Voice to Parliament has garnered national attention.
Today’s Saturday print edition of Neos Kosmos, in Greek and in English, also lead with the editorial, alongside the celebration of Greek National Day commemorating 25th of March 1821, which marks the start of the Greek War for Independence.
Neos Kosmos’ call to vote Yes in the referendum was picked up by Patricia Karvellas, a political reporter from ABC, who tweeted, “The nation’s biggest Greek paper has editorialised for a yes vote. What are other ethnic papers saying? #auspol.”
The nations biggest Greek paper has editorialised for a yes vote. What are other ethnic papers saying? #auspol https://t.co/pgE6YDIGNP
— Patricia Karvelas (@PatsKarvelas) March 23, 2023
The Guardian’s Victorian State Correspondent, Benita Kolovos, re-tweeted Neos Kosmos, stating that the leading Greek Australian newspaper is backing the Yes vote in the upcoming referendum for a First Nations Voice to Parliament. “The referendum presents a historic opportunity to redress injustices,” it says.
Neos Kosmos, the leading Greek Australian newspaper, is backing the Yes vote in the upcoming referendum for a First Nations Voice to Parliament. “The referendum presents an historic opportunity to redress injustices,” it says. https://t.co/vNs85WKXsS
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) March 24, 2023
The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney MP, thanked Neos Kosmos and the “Greek community” in a tweet, saying, “A huge thank you to Neos Kosmos and the Australian Greek Community for your support for the Voice!”
A huge thank you to Neos Kosmos, and the Australian Greek Community, for your support for the Voice! 🇬🇷 ❤️💛🖤https://t.co/zFQPrnMPrR @NeosKosmos
— Linda Burney MP (@LindaBurneyMP) March 24, 2023
The Australian Financial Review reported on the editorial decision and included comments from other leading multicultural media such as Il Globo, Australian Jewish News, and Indian Link. It noted that Neos Kosmos, wrote in an editorial on Thursday that the referendum presents a “historic opportunity to redress injustices” and called on Greek Australians to vote “yes.”
The article quoting from the Neos Kosmos editorial states, “As a pillar in the Greek Australian community, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our nation’s Indigenous community. We believe a First Nations Voice to Parliament will go some way to creating a more inclusive Australian society that values and respects the unique cultures and histories of all Australians. By working together and by strengthening Indigenous Australian voices and perspectives, we can help to create a more just society for all Australians.”
Neos Kosmos editor, Sotiris Hatzimanolis, said that “it was no mere chance that we chose 25 March as the day to call for Greek Australians to Vote Yes in the Voice to Parliament.” He added that “the struggle for the liberation of Hellenes in 1821 after 400 years of living under the Ottoman colonial empire was a universal call to freedom.”
“The Greek War of Independence became a lightning rod for international support from philhellenes, republicans, and abolitionists, and it saw the birth of the notion of international human rights after the atrocities carried out in Chios and Morea.”
He noted that former African American slaves went to Greece to fight, and Greek revolutionaries participated in the American Civil War on the side of the abolitionists.
The editor of Neos Kosmos urged those who were sceptical to learn about the Voice to Parliament and said that the newspaper “will do its best to provide information and respectful debate on the issue.” He added that it would contrast with Hellenic values, like freedom and democracy, not to vote Yes in the referendum.
