News

CANBERRA: The vast majority of the Armenian National Committee of Australia’s (ANC Australia) endorsed candidates won their seats in the Federal Parliament in Saturday’s Election, which after a long post-poll count, was won by the Liberal/National Coalition with Malcolm Turnbull retaining the Prime Ministership.

Headlining the list of victors for Armenian-Australians is Tim Wilson (LIB), who won the seat of Goldstein in Victoria to ensure he becomes the second-ever Federal Parliamentarian of Armenian descent, after Joe Hockey (now retired from Federal politics).

The other Armenian-Australian contesting the poll was former ANC Australia National Board member, Hovig Melkonian (ALP), who unfortunately lost his seat of Casey, despite outstandingly clawing back the margin against his challenger, the incumbent Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith (LIB).

The most Armenian-populated seat in Australia, Bennelong in NSW, was won for a third time by John Alexander (LIB), who is the incumbent Chair of the Armenia-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group, and an outspoken advocate on Armenian Genocide recognition and the rights to self-determination for the Armenians of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.

The most Armenian-populated seat in Victoria, Bruce was won by Julian Hill (ALP), who has promised to advocate for Armenian-Australian issues of concern in the next Parliamentary term.

In the Senate, where the complete results are not yet clear, the Nick Xenophon Team, whose leader Nick Xenophon is a strong advocate for Armenian Genocide recognition, won three seats (up from one). The Greens will also likely end up with at least six Senators. The Greens are on the record to ANC Australia as supporters of Armenian Genocide recognition.

The Liberal/National Coalition (LIB) won the House of Representatives race with the minimum required 76 seats, while the Australian Labor Party remains in Opposition with 68 seats. The Greens and the Nick Xenophon Team have one seat each, while a further three Independents make up the cross-benches.

The seat of Cowan in Western Australia fell to Dr. Anne Aly (ALP), who was backed by ANC Australia against the incumbent Luke Simpkins (LIB). Simpkins was on the record as promoting Azerbaijan's claims against the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and was Chair of the Azerbaijan-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Prior to the election, the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) met with candidates in key seats for Armenian-Australians, and produced a report card reviewing the key candidates.

A statement released on Election Night from the community’s peak public affairs body read:

“ANC Australia is pleased to report the following key results for Armenian-Australians:

• JOHN ALEXANDER (LIB) has retained the most Armenian populated seat in Australia and is re-elected as the Member for Bennelong. Alexander is the Chair of the Australia-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, and the most vocal advocate for the right to self-determination for the Armenians of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.
  
  
• TRENT ZIMMERMAN (LIB) has retained the seat of North Sydney, which is also heavily populated with Armenians. He is the successor to Joe Hockey and in his recent Maiden Address, called on Turkey to recognise the Armenian Genocide.
  
  
• MICHELLE ROWLAND (ALP) has retained Greenway. She is a very eloquent advocate for Armenian Genocide recognition by the Federal Government, and has shown a keen interest for the safety and well being of Armenians escaping the terrors of ISIS in Syria and Iraq as Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism and Citizenship.
  
  
• TIM WILSON (LIB) has won the seat of Goldstein, becoming the second ever Armenians (after now-retired Joe Hockey) in the Federal Parliament of Australia.
  
  
• JULIAN HILL (ALP) has retained the most Armenian populated seat in Victoria for his party, Bruce. He has committed support for key Armenian-Australian issues.
  
  
• PAUL FLETCHER (LIB), who is also on the record as a supporter of Armenian Genocide recognition, has retained the seat of Bradfield.
  
  
• Senator Nick Xenophon, a strong supporter of Armenian Genocide recognition, formed his own Party for this Federal Election, and his NXT Candidate for the Electorate of Mayo in South Australia, REBEKHA SHARKIE (NXT) has won.
  
• Dr. Anne Aly (ALP) has defeated the Chair of the Azerbaijan-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Luke Simpkins (LIB) in Cowan, WA.
  
  
• Friends of ANC Australia who have won their respective seats include JOEL FITZGIBBON (ALP), JASON CLARE (ALP), ANTHONY ALBANESE (ALP), CHRIS BOWEN (ALP), JULIAN LEESER (LIB), and incumbent Prime Minister MALCOLM TURNBULL (LIB).
  
  
• Other Armenian populated seats that have been decided include Warringah, which has seen TONY ABBOTT (LIB) re-elected, and the seat of Mackellar, who has elected JASON FALLINSKI (LIB) to take over from the retiring Bronwyn Bishop. These are candidates we look forward to meeting post-election to seek their positions on key Armenian-Australian issues.

We have congratulated returning Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on his Election victory, and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on his Campaign.

We would also like to comment on the Election campaign of former ANC Australia Board Member and very good friend, HOVIG MELKONIAN (ALP). Unfortunately, Melkonian has lost the seat of Casey to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith, despite recording a swing away from the incumbent and towards his party, and attracting tens of thousands of votes. We would like to wish him all the best in what is undoubtedly a very promising future in politics, and would like to convey how proud the Armenian-Australian community is with his efforts.”

ANC Australia’s Executive Administrator Arin Markarian remarked: “We would like to congratulate all Members of Parliament who have been elected or re-elected to serve in public office, and we look forward to meeting with them to continue to advance all Armenian-Australian issues and concerns that are important to our community.”