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CANBERRA: In a recent parliamentary statement, the Shadow Minister for Immigration, Scott Morrison placed on record his belief that the Armenian Genocide was a crime against humanity.

The statement came after Morisson pledged to add his voice to call for recognition of the Armenian Genocide during the national Armenian Genocide Commemorative Evening in Sydney during April.
 
“Today, as a member of this House, I join others in this place, and in parliaments around the world, to place on record that I believe the Armenian genocide was one of the greatest crimes against humanity,” said Morrison.
 
“We do not seek to lay blame, this is not an indictment of the modern, secular, Turkish state that we know as a friend, but it is important that we recognise the Armenian genocide for what it was.”
 
ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian described the statement as the first step in Morrison’s advocacy efforts.

He said: "Mr. Morrison has now placed on parliamentary record his affirmation of the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide and added his voice to calls for recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Australia."

"We thank Mr. Morrison and trust that he will continue to champion the cause for Armenian Genocide recognition in the Federal Parliament of Australia."

Morrison’s statement was followed just days later by a parliamentary sitting dominated by calls for Armenian Genocide recognition when MPs Joe Hockey, John Alexander and Paul Fletcher raised the matter on the floor of the House of Representatives.



FULL ADDRESS BY SCOTT MORRISON

Mr MORRISON (Cook) (13:44): This year, on 22 April, I attended with the member for Bennelong a function held by the Sydney Armenian community to mark the 96th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Today, as a member of this House, I join others in this place, and in parliaments around the world, to place on record that I believe the Armenian genocide was one of the greatest crimes against humanity. On 24 April 1915, as the Anzacs were preparing to go ashore at Gallipoli, nearby in Constantinople an attempt to eradicate the Armenian people began. At the end of the violence, which spread around the Ottoman empire, 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children had fallen victim to the genocide—a heinous act concealed under the cover of the war to end all wars.

Four hundred Anzac prisoners of war bore witness to the atrocities. Australian Flying Corps captain Thomas White, who was captured in central Mesopotamia, wrote in his memoir, 'Armenians had sold their lives dearly.' Many countries have condemned the 1915 genocide at the hands of the Ottoman government. We do not seek to lay blame, this is not an indictment of the modern, secular, Turkish state that we know as a friend, but it is important that we recognise the Armenian genocide for what it was. This is one act we should never forget. Dare we allow it ever to be repeated.