NSW Parliamentary Friends of Greece formed

Photograph: NSW Parliamentary Friends of Greece at their launch. Among others, MPs Mr. John Pantazopoulos, George Souris, Matthew Morris, Sophie Kotsis, the NSW Attorney General, John Hatzistergos, Consul General Vassilis Tolios and the Coordinator of SAE Oceania, Mr. George Angelopoulos.

The NSW Parliamentary Friends of Greece Group was established in the New South Wales Parliament (NSW), in a special event held on Tuesday, the 21st of September 2010. It was attended by MPs and Senators from all parties.

The effort was launched by the President of the “World Hellenic – Inter-Parliamentary Association” (WHIA), Victoria MP, Mr. John Pantazopoulos and the Treasurer of WHIA, NSW MP George Souris, who collaborate on many issues with SAE Oceania and Far East. The establishment of the Group took place after a series of contacts with parliamentary representatives of the NSW Parliament, and action taken by the MP Mr. N. Turner, who took charge of the organization.

In the NSW Parliamentary Friends Association of Greece Group there are 36 MPs and Senators, while many others have shown interest to participate.

The proceedings were attended by SAE Oceania and Far East Region Coordinator George Angelopoulos and the Consul General of Greece in Sydney Vassilis Tolios. SAE Article Tolios offer a speech that emphasized the importance of an active interstate collaboration within the framework of the friendship ties between the two countries. Other speeches made during the meeting were also in the same spirit.

After Pantazopoulos and Angelopoulos met with the Speaker of the Parliament Richard Torbay and discussed issues of immediate interest for the Greek Diaspora.

After the establishment of the Group, an appointment of duties was made in the following composition:
Co-Presidents: John Turner MP National Party Member for Myall Lakes, Matthew Morris MP Labor Party member for Charlestown
Secretary/Treasurer: Andrew Fraser MP National Party Member for Coffs Harbour
Committee: Linda Votz MLC Labor Party Member of the Upper House, Sophie Cotsis MLC Labor Party Member of the Upper House

The guests then attended the proceedings of the Parliament where the Speaker, Mr. Richard Torbay, made special reference to the establishment of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Greece Group to the official guests.

The NSW Parliamentary Friends of Greece Group is expected to be connected with the WHIA and become a body for mutual friendship assistance and solidarity with Greece and the Greek Parliament.


As reported in the Greek-Australian newspaper - Neos Kosmos. 4 Oct 2010

Reporter: Laura Burgoine

NSW Parliamentary Friends of Greece group created

The NSW ‘Friends of Greece’ will be a ready support group for matters affecting Greece, George Souris MP says

The creation of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Greece Group will allow a “bipartisan approach to issue resolution by politicians of Greek background”, according to ALP member for Dandenong, John Pandazopoulos, who addressed the group’s launch.

“The group is made up of members of all political parties and we believe the support of non-Greek MPs is essential in issues of debate that are currently going on, like the national curriculum review and where Greek sits in this,” Mr Pandazopoulos told Neos Kosmos.

Greek members of the community now have a defined group they can approach with issues of concern, which did not exist before, Mr Pandazopoulos said.

“It’s about us working together and supporting the Greek community in issues of concern it has with any of our governments in Australia, whether it’s national, state or territory. It also allows us to work on issues of importance to Greece and Cyprus, whether it be national issues like building support around the Parthenon marbles or the resolution of the Cyprus issue,” he said.

Consul General for Greece, Vassilios Tolios, Oceania President of the Council of Hellenes Abroad, George Angelopoulos, Nationals member for Myall Lakes in NSW; John Turner and Nationals member for Upper Hunter; George Souris, all attended the group’s launch.

The launch was preceded by a formal meeting where John Turner and Labor MP Matthew Morris became co-Presidents. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the President of the Legislative Council were also in attendance to formally recognise ‘the Friends’ by the Parliament.

Mr Souris, a long-term member of the World Hellenic inter-parliamentary Association, told Neos Kosmos it was a great pleasure a NSW Parliamentary Friends of Greece group has been established alongside the Victorian Friends of Greece and Commonwealth Friends of Greece groups. “The importance of ‘the Friends’ is that whenever motions or matters of importance are open for debate there is a ready support group for matters affecting Greece,” Mr Souris said.

“As an elected member of the NSW Parliament and of Greek heritage I am proud to have been associated with the formation of ‘the Friends’.”

Mr Souris said from time to time the Friends will be involved in hosting official visitors and parliamentarians from Greece.

“We will of course become another institution in the rich fabric of Hellenic related organisations that make up our local Society here in NSW,” he said, adding “it is hoped that ‘the Friends’ will provide representation at the various cultural and community events held by the Greek community in the future”.