News

As part of our commitment to advance the concerns of the Armenian-Australian community, the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) approached and met with key Members of Parliament, Candidates and Government Department Officials ahead of the 2007 Federal Election, which will be held on November 24. ANC Australia’s Guide to Federal Election 2007 serves to communicate the messages and promises our politicians have conveyed to ANC Australia regarding issues that specifically concern, and are fundamentally important, to our community. The matters discussed during our meetings relate to both Australian Domestic and Armenian Specific issues. Among the issues discussed – as selected by members of the community who participated in AYF Australia surveys and a poll conducted on [link=http://www.anc.org.au]www.anc.org.au[/link] – were; the Australian Economy, Healthcare, Industrial Relations, the Environment, Funding for Armenian-Australian community projects, Federal recognition of the Armenian Genocide and Australian Aid to Armenia. As general party policies are readily available to the Australian mainstream through media outlets and party websites (Australian Labor Party (ALP): [link=http://www.alp.org.au]www.alp.org.au[/link] | Liberal Party of Australia (LIB): [link=http://www.liberal.org.au]www.liberal.org.au[/link]), this guide will focus on the Armenian-specific matters of interest, and our politicians’ positions regarding these issues. Throughout this year, ANC Australia’s activities focused on Armenian populated seats and meetings with candidates in each of these electorates. The seat of Bennelong was the most interesting battleground, currently held by Prime Minister John Howard (LIB). The electorate is classified as marginal due to a redrawing of borders and a spirited challenge by high-profile Labor candidate, Ms Maxine McKew. At no other seat will the Armenian vote – an estimated 4000 in Bennelong – play such an integral role in determining the outcome on ballot day. [b]Ms McKew (ALP)[/b], the former ABC journalist challenging the Prime Minister, welcomed an ANC Australia delegation to her Eastwood office in September. There, she pledged to “unequivocally and publicly” support the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, stating: “The Armenian-Australian community has a kindred spirit in me and if elected, I will advocate for recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Government of Australia.” [b]Prime Minister Howard (LIB)[/b], while unable to meet with ANC Australia, expressed his “sympathy for the tragic events of 1915” and was represented by Senior Cabinet Minister, Mr. Joe Hockey on Armenian Family Day – A Rally for Genocide Recognition. There, Mr. Hockey read a statement by the Prime Minister: “I am pleased to announce that, in response to a request from the Armenian National Committee of Australia, the Government will provide up to $1.4 million to the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) for support to the Gyumri Mother and Child Health Care Centre.” [b]Mr. Hockey (LIB)[/b], the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Member for North Sydney, was vital in the success of this funding proposal. A long time friend of the Armenian-Australian community, and staunch supporter of the Federal recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Mr. Hockey introduced the ARS funding proposal on behalf of ANC Australia to both the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, [b]Mr. Alexander Downer (LIB)[/b], and ultimately won their support. ANC Australia also met with Armenian Genocide recognition advocate [b]Mr. Robert McClelland (ALP)[/b], the Federal Member for Barton who in his capacity as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs reaffirmed his commitment to have the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia recognise and condemn the Armenian Genocide. Mr. McClelland further promised to honour the $1.4million ARS funding proposal if Labor was elected at the upcoming Federal Election. In an earlier visit to Canberra, ANC Australia were joined by members of the HASG College Board, where a key meeting relating to school funding was held with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, [b]Mr. Pat Farmer (LIB)[/b]. Mr. Farmer pledged his support for additional aid to the HASG College, Sydney’s K-12 Armenian everyday school. Also supporting ANC Australia efforts in relation to school funding were Shadow Defence Minister, [b]Mr. Joel Fitzgibbon (ALP)[/b] and NSW Senator, [b]Ms Marise Payne (LIB)[/b]. Recently, Ms Payne as Chair of the Federal Armenia-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group, this year welcomed new member Mr. Chris Bowen (ALP), who elected to join at the request of ANC Australia, noting his large Armenian-Australian constituency in Sydney’s West. Mr. Bowen is the Federal Member for Prospect and Shadow Assistant Treasurer, Revenue & Competition Policy. Other political figures who met with ANC Australia in the lead-up to the Federal Election included the Federal Minister for Defence and Member for Bradfield, [b]Dr. Brendan Nelson (LIB)[/b]; the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing and Member for Warringah, [b]Mr. Tony Abbott (LIB)[/b]; the Federal Member for Bruce, [b]Mr. Alan Griffin (ALP)[/b]; Shadow Attorney General and Vice-Chair of the Federal Armenia-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group, [b]Senator Joe Ludwig (ALP)[/b]; Attorney General, [b]Mr. Phillip Ruddock (LIB)[/b]; Candidate for Blaxland, [b]Mr. Jason Clare (ALP)[/b]; and Federal Minister for Immigration, [b]Mr. Kevin Andrews[/b]. ANC Australia thanks all supporters of the Armenian-Australian community and wishes all candidates well in their campaigns to be elected at the 2007 Federal Election. [u][b]ARMENIAN-AUSTRALIAN POPULATED SEATS AND CANDIDATES[/b][/u] [b]NSW[/b] [u]BENNELONG (RYDE)[/u] MAXINE MCKEW (ALP) JOHN HOWARD (LIB) [u]NORTH SYDNEY (NORTH SHORE)[/u] MIKE BAILEY (ALP) JOE HOCKEY (LIB) [u]BRADFIELD (NORTH SHORE)[/u] VICTORIA BROOKMAN (ALP) BRENDON NELSON (LIB) [u]PROSPECT (WEST SYDNEY)[/u] CHRIS BOWEN (ALP) LILY ARTHUR (LIB) [u]FOWLER (WEST SYDNEY)[/u] JULIA IRWIN (ALP) ROSE TOROSSIAN (LIB) [u]WARRINGAH (NTHN BEACHES)[/u] HUGH ZOCHLING (ALP) TONY ABBOTT (LIB) [u]MACKELLAR (NTHN BEACHES)[/u] CHRIS SHARPE (ALP) BRONWYN BISHOP (LIB) [u]BEROWRA (NTHN DISTRICT)[/u] MICHAEL COLNAN (ALP) PHILLIP RUDDOCK (LIB) [b]VIC[/b] [u]BRUCE (SE MELBOURNE)[/u] ALAN GRIFFIN (ALP) ANGELA RANDALL (LIB)