MELBOURNE: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) National Office and Melbourne Branch have met with key candidates ahead of the 2022 Victorian state elections, which will be held on Saturday, 26th November 2022.
As the peak public affairs body of the Armenian-Australian community, the ANC-AU conducted these meetings in an effort to advance relationships ahead of the next parliamentary term with the aim of achieving an increase in representation of Armenian-Australian issues of priority.
In meetings with candidates, the ANC-AU covered global Armenian issues, including ascertaining support for recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides, support for the rights to self-determination for the Armenians of the Republic of Artsakh and the strengthening of bilateral relations between Armenia and the state of Victoria.
Local issues of concern were also raised, including support for Victoria’s local Armenian-Australian community, their organisations and institutions.
Pre-election meetings with candidates were held in conjunction with representatives from the Assyrian National Council, led by Jacob Haweil and the Australian Hellenic Council, led by Peter Stefanidis.
Representatives from the three communities met with dozens of candidates running in Armenian, Greek and Assyrian-populated electorates, including in the seats of Ashwood, Brighton, Brunswick, Clarinda, Caulfield, Dandenong, Glen Waverley, Hawthorn, Kew, Malvern, Mornington, Northcote, Ringwood and Sandringham presenting issues of concern to members of the three communities.
Chairperson of the ANC-AU – Melbourne Branch, Asbed Boymoushakian, thanked candidates for providing the Armenian-Australian community of Victoria with a platform to have their voices heard.
“We appreciate the opportunity to meet with candidates and wish to thank them for their precious time during this busy election campaign,” said Boymoushakian.
“There is no doubt that these meetings ahead of the election will lay a solid foundation for support of Armenian-Australian issues in the next parliament,” added Boymoushakian.
The Armenian National Committee of Australia will release a 2022 Victorian Election Guide for Armenian-Australians ahead of the upcoming polls.
