MELBOURNE: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) National Office followed up trips to Canberra and Brisbane with two days of advocacy in the Victorian State Parliament.
Following the inaugural Joint Justice Initiative Advocacy Week launched on Monday 20th February 2023, the ANC-AU National Office ventured to Melbourne, and bolstered by local branch member, Jessica Cinar, represented issues of importance to Armenian-Australians to state parliamentarians.
The Armenian-Australian peak public affairs body was also joined by leaders of the Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian communities in Victoria, and met with representatives from the Victorian Labor Party, the Victorian Liberal Party and the Victorian Greens.
The ANC-AU met with James Newbury – Member for Brighton, Meng Tak – Member for Clarinda, Jess Wilson – Member for Kew, Chris Crewther – Member for Mornington, Ann-Marie Hermans – Liberal Member of the Legislative Council, Michael Galea – Labor Member of the Legislative Council, Sonja Terpstre – Labor Member of the Legislative Council, Nick McGown – Liberal Member of the Legislative Council and Samantha Rathnam – Leader of the Victorian Greens and Member of the Legislative Council.
The delegation congratulated all newly elected and re-elected parliamentarians on their success at the 2022 Victorian state election and discussed ways to advance Armenian-Australian issues of concern to the local community.
ANC-AU Executive Director Michael Kolokossian said: “Victoria is home to a vibrant and sizable Armenian-Australian community, and it is only right for our compatriots to have their voices heard in the hallways of power. We were proud to be joined by one our newest additions to the ANC-AU – Melbourne Branch, Jessica Cinar,” added Kolokossian.
“The work of the ANC-AU is paramount to the Armenian cause more globally. Having a Victorian Parliament that understands issues of the Armenian-Australian community will help guide Australia’s foreign policy and more accurately bring us in line with our allies,” Cinar added.