Mike Sweet, who has worked for Neos Kosmos for six years, has been made a member of the Press Gallery at Federal Parliament.
The appointment was confirmed this week by president of the Parliamentary Press Gallery committee David Speers – political editor for Sky News Australia.
Sweet’s reporting has regularly covered federal political stories and his membership of the Press Gallery will allow Neos Kosmos greater access to MPs, senators, and the latest breaking news from Parliament House.
Between 2008 and 2011 Mike lived and worked in the Greek capital, reporting for the Athens News. It was while living in Greece that Mike first started writing for Neos Kosmos. His media career includes employment with the BBC in the UK and in Asia.
Sweet – a Philhellene originally from Wales – has worked as a journalist and documentary producer since setting up home with his wife and children in Australia in 2003, and been a freelance contributor to The Age, The Australian and other titles. He is currently writing and producing a documentary for ABC Radio National on the Anzac story in Greece.
Sweet told Neos Kosmos: “Being a member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery allows great access to federal politicians, to press conferences, and the workings of parliament, and I’m excited about the opportunities that it will give me – to report on federal politics at its heart.
“Covering the actions of MPs of Greek descent, and how the debates and decisions here affect the Greek Australian community, is going to be an important part of my work, and one that I very much look forward to on my visits to Canberra.”
The Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery is made up of some 250 accredited media, consisting of mostly journalists. The history of the Press Gallery dates back to 9 May 1901 in Melbourne, where 31 journalists covered the first sittings of parliament.
In 1927 the Press Gallery moved to Provisional Parliament House (now called Old Parliament House) in Canberra. In 1988 it moved into its current location within the corridors of Parliament House on Capital Hill.
