Thursday, 3 April 2025

 Chris CREWTHER (Mornington) (14:48): (1096) My question is for the Premier. What is the Victorian government doing to give Greek, Assyrian and Armenian Victorians, including in the Mornington electorate, hope by recognising the generosity and courage of everyday Victorians who came to aid survivors during the 1915–23 Ottoman Empire genocide, as has been done in New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia? The Mornington electorate is home to about 2000 people of Greek, Armenian and Assyrian heritage, many of whom are direct descendants of survivors of the Ottoman Empire genocide over 100 years ago. Around 1.5 million Armenians, 300,000 Assyrians and 250,000 Greeks perished due to death marches, massacres and forced starvation. From 1915 to 1929 the Armenian Relief Fund, established in Victoria, raised funds and aid to support survivors. The state government must do more to respect and honour survivors, their ancestors and these humanitarians, particularly with Armenian genocide remembrance on 24 April and Greek genocide remembrance on 19 May.