Before we get started, a bit about “Our Gladys”...
Before jumping into the nuts and bolts of our Guide for Armenian-Australian Voters, it is important we acknowledge that this particular NSW State Election has additional significance for Armenian-Australians, as it represents the first time that the leader of one of the major parties, and incumbent Premier, is of Armenian descent.
This Election, for many Armenian-Australians in NSW, is about Gladys Berejiklian.
If her Liberal and National Coalition wins, Berejiklian stands to become the first female to lead a NSW political party to an election victory, thus becoming the first elected female Premier of NSW. Further, should her party win the Election and thus return Berejiklian to the position of Premier, she would become the first leader to win a third consecutive term in NSW Government for the Liberal and National Coalition.
This quest to make history by “Our Gladys” has heightened interest, excitement and nerves among the Armenian-Australian community of NSW ahead of the polls this Saturday, 23rd March 2019, and understandably so.
“Our Gladys” has brought unprecedented public awareness to Armenian issues since her rise to the position of Premier of NSW. As someone who has grown up in the Armenian-Australian community, advocated for Armenian issues prior to entering public life, she has used every opportunity to promote her Armenian story, through her unique viewpoint as a descendant of Armenian Genocide survivors.
Further, “Our Gladys” has inspired generations of Armenian-Australians about what one can achieve in this country, therefore it is only expected that the community wishes her the best ahead of what is tipped to be a tight battle for the right to govern NSW. Her Liberal and National Coalition needs to win more seats, in more electorates than the Labor Party and crossbench in order for Berejiklian to make history and continue as the Premier of Australia’s largest state.
Our Executive Director, Haig Kayserian was interviewed by SBS Armenian Radio’s Vahe Kateb ahead of the NSW State Election, and we encourage all readers to listen to that interview by clicking here or pressing play below (first 11 minutes about the NSW State Election).
ANC-AU 2019 NSW State Election Guide for Armenian Voters
As part of our commitment to advance the concerns of Armenian-Australians, the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) approached and met with key candidates in Armenian-populated seats of New South Wales ahead of the 2019 State Election, which will be held on Saturday 23rd March 2019.
This ANC-AU NSW State Election Guide serves to communicate the positions and messages that candidates have conveyed to us 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.
The process that leads to the production of this Guide began with a community consultation, where the ANC-AU received requests for representations from several organisations and institutions serving the Armenian-Australians of NSW.
This consultation continued with the ANC-AU Call Centre project. These were run out of Armenian community centres in the North Shore and Western Sydney, and saw young Armenian-Australians – led by members of the Armenian Youth Federation of Australia (AYF-AU) – who called individual Armenian households across NSW, gathering voter data, collecting voter registrations and asking questions of their priorities ahead of the State Election.
As a result of this process, and the priorities of the ANC-AU, a wide range of issues were discussed with key candidates competing for votes in the Armenian-populated seats of Willoughby, Davidson, Ryde, Epping, Prospect and Riverstone. These issues included, but were not limited to, candidate positions on the Armenian Genocide, similarly on the rights to self-determination for the Armenians of Artsakh and NSW Government funding for existing and pipelined Armenian-Australian community projects, as well as educational programs for a number of NSW-based Armenian schools.
As general party policies are readily available to the Australian mainstream through media outlets and party websites (Liberal Party of Australia [LIB]: www.liberal.org.au | Australian Labor Party [ALP]: www.alp.org.au), this Guide will focus on the policy positions held by our politicians and candidates on Armenian-specific issues.
Over the 56th Parliamentary term, ANC-AU held hundreds of meetings with NSW legislators in order to discuss Armenian-Australian issues. Additionally, in the lead up to the 2019 NSW State Election, ANC-AU held meetings with key candidates in Armenian-populated electorates in order to secure support on all issues of importance to the Armenian-Australian community. This ANC-AU 2019 NSW State Election Guide represents a consolidation of our notes from those meetings.
WILLOUGHBY
ANC-AU met with Premier Gladys Berejiklian (LIB), who has held the seat of Willoughby since 2003.
Willoughby incorporates Artarmon, Cammeray, Castlecrag, Chatswood, Chatswood West, Cremorne, Crows Nest, Lane Cove North, Middle Cove, Naremburn, Neutral Bay, North Sydney, North Willoughby, Northbridge, Roseville, St Leonards, Willoughby and Willoughby East.
Armenian Genocide
As NSW Premier, she has brought more public awareness to the cause of justice for the Armenian Genocide than the ANC-AU could have hoped for. Through interviews, speeches and other large public opportunities, Berejiklian has spoken about being a descendant of survivors of the Armenian Genocide, and how this is a motivating factor driving her will to succeed. She was a keynote guest at the ANC-AU Dinner, thanking the NSW Parliament for 20 years of standing on the side of truth and justice - which includes the parliament’s stance on issues including the Armenian Genocide and Artsakh.
Artsakh
Berejiklian continues to stay strong on the Republic of Artsakh, and her leading role in taking a 2013 NSW Political Delegation there led to her etching onto Azerbaijan’s black list. This term, she has met visiting Artsakh politician, in then-State Minister, Arayik Harutyunyan.
Community
Berejiklian is a regular at Armenian events commemorating and celebrating many anniversaries and milestones. At the Armenian Festival late last year, she paid tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia.
Berejiklian also visited the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) office while on a trip to Washington D.C. and plans another trip to Armenia this coming term.
DAVIDSON
ANC-AU met with Jonathan O’Dea (LIB), who has held the seat of Davidson since 2007.
Davidson incorporates Belrose, Castle Cove, Davidson, East Killara, East Lindfield, Forestville, Frenchs Forest, Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, Oxford Falls, Pymble, Roseville, Roseville Chase, St Ives, St Ives Chase and Terrey Hills.
Armenian Genocide
O’Dea, as Chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Armenia, has spoken on the importance of justice for the Armenian Genocide on countless occasions, on the public record.
Further, he recently used the National Armenian Genocide Commemoration Evening as an opportunity to call on the Federal Government to follow suit and recognise the Armenian Genocide.
Artsakh
Last year, O’Dea made an emotional speech in NSW Parliament, commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Sumgait Massacres, committed against the Armenians of Artsakh by Azerbaijan. O’Dea used this opportunity to reiterate his recognition of the rights to self-determination of the Armenians of the Republic of Artsakh.
Further, during the visit of Artsakh’s then-State Minister, Arayik Harutyunyan, O’Dea moved a motion within the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Armenia Group, which passed unanimously declaring solidarity with the 2012 NSW Parliament’s Legislative Council Motion recognising the Republic of Artsakh.
O’Dea is also on the persona non gratae (black list) of Azerbaijan after visiting there with the ANC-AU NSW Parliamentary delegation in 2013.
Community
O’Dea is a highly appreciated regular at Armenian community events. He is always ready to lend a helping hand to community organisations and efforts, regularly providing letters of support and other such material to assist community schools and organisations' activities.
RYDE
ANC-AU met with the Member for Ryde since 2007, NSW Finance Minister Victor Dominello (LIB) and the sitting Mayor of the City of Ryde, the opposing candidate, Jerome Laxale (ALP).
Ryde incorporates Denistone, Denistone East, Denistone West, Eastwood, Epping, Macquarie Park, Marsfield, Meadowbank, Melrose Park, North Ryde, Ryde and West Ryde.
Armenian Genocide
Dominello has a voting record supporting motions recognising the Armenian Genocide in the NSW Parliament, and has often addressed commemoration events – in Chatswood and Meadowbank – declaring his solidarity with the fight for justice and recognition of the crime against humanity.
Laxale also has a voting record in support of motions in Ryde Council recognising the Armenian Genocide, one of which was moved during his mayorship last year.
Artsakh
Dominello wrote to ANC-AU expressing his condolences to Armenian-Australians on the occasion of the 31st Anniversary of the Sumgait Massacres, committed against the Armenians of Artsakh by Azerbaijan. In that letter, Dominello declared he stands by the NSW Legislative Council Motion of 2012, which recognises the right to self-determination for the Armenians of the Republic of Artsakh.
Laxale seconded a motion moved in Ryde Council by Councillor Sarkis Yedelian, which recognised the Republic of Artsakh and its people’s right to self-determination. Laxale has begun discussions with ANC-AU about establishing a connection between the City of Ryde and a city in Artsakh, to bring greater awareness to the rights of Armenians in the region.
Community
Dominello and Laxale both support the major community project in discussions for the City of Ryde, which relates to the Ararat Sports and Scouts Club. Both candidates have advanced the vision of Homenetmen Ararat and Hamazkaine Nairi through appropriate channels, and are guiding the organisation’s efforts for a new facility, which better suits their size and purposes.
EPPING
ANC-AU met with NSW Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet (LIB) who is contending for the Seat of Epping for the first time, as well as opposing candidate Alan Mascarenhas (ALP).
Epping incorporates Beecroft, Carlingford, Castle Hill, Cheltenham, Cherrybrook, Dural, Eastwood, Epping, North Epping, Pennant Hills and West Pennant Hills.
Armenian Genocide, Artsakh and Community
As this was the first meeting between ANC-AU and both candidates, information was exchanged and both Perrottet and Mascarenhas proved their foreign policy knowledge and outlined their records in promoting the causes of persecuted groups.
Perrottet committed to joining the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Armenia if successful, as well as discussing funding opportunities for certain projects being worked on by the Armenian school, Galstaun College.
PROSPECT
ANC-AU met with the Member for Prospect since 2015, Hugh McDermott (ALP).
Prospect incorporates Arndell Park, Blacktown, Bossley Park, Eastern Creek, Fairfield West, Girraween, Greystanes, Huntingwood, Pemulwuy, Pendle Hill, Prairiewood, Prospect, Seven Hills, Smithfield, Toongabbie, Wentworthville and Wetherill Park.
Armenian Genocide
McDermott has supported Armenian issues, including the continuation of the NSW Parliament’s position on the right side of truth and justice for the Armenian Genocide, since his entry into the Legislative Assembly.
In his first term, he joined the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Armenia group and became and active member of it, speaking on the public record in support of Armenian-Australian community issues, including the Armenian Genocide.
Artsakh
McDermott rose in the Parliament last year to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Sumgait Massacres, committed against the Armenians of Artsakh by Azerbaijan. He also declared his support for an independent Republic of Artsakh, exercising its right to self-determination.
He was also part of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Armenia welcoming party for the visiting then-State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan.
Community
McDermott is a proven supporter of the Armenian community of Prospect. He is assisting in guiding the Panoyan Centre’s new plans for expansion to facilitate its evolving and growing demographic.
RIVERSTONE
ANC-AU met with the Member for Riverstone since 2011, Kevin Conolly (LIB) and opposing candidate, Annemarie Christie (ALP).
Riverstone incorporates Acacia Gardens, Colebee, Glenwood, Kellyville Ridge, Marsden Park, Parklea, Quakers Hill, Riverstone, Rouse Hill, Schofields, Stanhope Gardens, The Ponds and Vineyard.
Armenian Genocide, Artsakh and Community
This electorate, which is new to our attention as it incorporates a growing Armenian community within the aforementioned suburbs.
As this was the first meeting between ANC-AU and both candidates, information was exchanged and both Conolly and Christie promised to support Armenian issues and the Armenian-Australian community on issues of importance, as outlined by ANC-AU.
