News

By Varant Meguerditchian - Executive Director

As part of our commitment to advance the concerns of Armenian-Australians, the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) approached and met with key Members of Parliament, candidates and department officials ahead of the 2010 Federal Election, which will be held on Saturday 21 August.

ANC Australia's Guide to Federal Election 2010 serves to communicate the messages and promises that our politicians 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.


Among the issues discussed were; the Australian Economy, Immigration, Healthcare, Industrial Relations, the Environment, Funding for Armenian-Australian Community Projects, Federal Recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Australian Aid to Armenia and Recognition of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.

As general party policies are readily available to the Australian mainstream through media outlets and party websites (Australian Labor Party [ALP]: www.alp.org.au | Liberal Party of Australia [LIB]: www.liberal.org.au), this guide will focus on the policy positions held by our politicians on Armenian-specific issues.

Over the 2007-2010 Federal Parliamentary term, ANC Australia met with more than 150 legislators in order to discuss Armenian-Australian issues. Additionally, in the lead up to the 2010 Federal Election, ANC Australia held meetings with sitting members and key candidates in Armenian-populated electorates in order to secure support for Federal recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Like the 2007 Election, in this 2010 Election, the seat of Bennelong is the most interesting battleground. Won by former ABC journalist Maxine McKew (ALP) dramatically toppling former Prime Minister John Howard in 2007, the electorate is classified marginal.

Challenger and former tennis champion John Alexander (LIB) requires a swing of only 1.4% (less than 2,500 votes) to secure victory.

With McKew (ALP) and Alexander (LIB) well aware that the more than 4,000-strong Armenian-Australian votes in Bennelong will have a significant impact upon the outcome of the election, both candidates took great care in addressing Armenian-Australian issues.

McKew (ALP) welcomed an ANC Australia delegation to her Epping office and reaffirmed her commitment to advocate for Federal recognition of the Armenian Genocide by pledging to garner support amongst like-minded politicians if re-elected to represent Bennelong. Having addressed the Federal Parliament on the issue of the Armenian Genocide earlier this year, McKew has demonstrated her support for her Armenian-Australian constituents.

Alexander (LIB), although new to Armenian-Australian issues, was unequivocal in his support for Federal recognition of the Armenian Genocide. At the meeting with ANC Australia, he declared that if elected to the House of Representatives, he would bring the Armenian Genocide issue to the floor.

With support for Armenian-Australian issues secured from both McKew (ALP) and Alexander (LIB), ANC Australia is confident that the Armenian-Australians of Bennelong will have a reliable representative in the Federal Parliament of Australia should either candidate be elected.

Joe Hockey (LIB), the Shadow Treasurer and Member for North Sydney, remained the leading voice for Armenian Genocide recognition in the Federal Parliament. Having spoken on a number of occasions regarding recognition and other Armenian-Australian issues, Hockey (LIB) continues to enjoy the support of Armenian-Australians in his safe Liberal electorate.

Elected to Parliament only last year to replace the outgoing Dr. Brendan Nelson, Paul Fletcher (LIB) was quick to demonstrate his awareness of Armenian-Australian issues. Only 4 months after winning the Bradfield by-election, he addressed the Federal Parliament about the Armenian Genocide and the Jewish Holocaust.

Like Nelson before him, Fletcher (LIB) has justified the support he receives from the Armenian-Australians residing in his electorate.

ANC Australia also met with the Minister for Financial Services Chris Bowen (ALP). As Member for the Armenian-Australian populated electorate of Prospect in Sydney's West, Bowen (ALP) has remained a leading supporter of Armenian-Australian issues.

In 2008, Bowen (ALP) hosted an exhibition in the Federal Parliament which attracted more than 40 Federal legislators and covered topics including the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Relief Fund of Australia, Nagorno Karabakh, the Armenian-Australian community, Armenian trade and Armenian history.

Bowen (ALP) is deserving of Armenian-Australian reverence.

Jason Clare (ALP), the Member for Blaxland who is seeking a second term in the House of Representatives, has consistently provided an audience for ANC Australia and is thus entitled to the respect of his Armenian-Australian constituents.

In the lead up to the 2010 Federal Election, ANC Australia also presented the dual issues of Armenian Genocide recognition and Galstaun College development with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott (LIB) and Shadow Minister for Seniors Bronwyn Bishop (LIB).

Both Abbott (LIB) of Warringah and Bishop (LIB) of Mackellar reaffirmed their commitment to support Armenian-Australians and the issues that remain important to our community in the coming term.

ANC Australia thanks all candidates for the meetings and wishes the supporters of Armenian-Australian issues well in their campaigns to be elected.