Thursday, 5 October 2023

Armenia–Azerbaijan war

Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:28): (494) My adjournment is for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and the action I seek is for the minister to join me in supporting the Armenians, including organising funding aid and provisions for the innocent people of Artsakh, which will encourage the Armenians living in the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. It is an honour to represent the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region because it is made up of a vibrant multicultural community with people from all walks of life. The Armenian–Australian community in Victoria predominantly live in my electorate and have contributed greatly to our state and have become increasingly important to me this year. My Armenian community is so big it is home to all three Armenian clubs, including the Armenian Community Centre in Mulgrave, the Sahagian football club, the Armenian General Benevolent Union in Rowville and the Armenian Community Centre in Springvale. Clubrooms are used by numerous Armenian groups who play an important role in continuing the language, culture and traditions of the ancient Armenian people. I have become very fond of this community, especially after visiting the community centre, attending events like the Armenian Film Festival and, most recently, participating in a cross-party parliamentary delegation to the Republic of Armenia just last week.

I want to speak about the delegation because I witnessed challenges for the Armenians, and I express my sincere support for the Armenian–Australian community. Firstly, I want to thank the Armenian National Committee of Australia and my six parliamentary colleagues from New South Wales and Victoria for participating in this historic delegation. It was my first delegation, and it was an incredible experience. We had the opportunity to meet with many government representatives and discuss foreign ministry concerns, with insights from the chairperson of the parliamentary friends of Australia and ministers from the renewable energy sector, all with the hope of expanding ties between our great nations. We enjoyed the amazing culinary tastes of Armenia. We enjoyed seeing the historic and ancient places that are part of Armenian history, because Armenia is in fact the oldest Christian nation in the world, with Christianity as its national religion.

While we were admiring all these wonderful things, we also had our hearts broken as we came across the people of Artsakh, who are being ethnically cleansed from their homes. We were there as they were allowed to leave after a 10-month siege on their entire region. We were there as they came across the borders with their children, seven crammed into the back of a car, many coming without clothing or any essentials. Some did not even have sanitary essentials – in fact many. I could tell you so many heartbreaking stories of the people that I met. But I do thank all those who are working with the people in Armenia and with the people of Artsakh, and I ask the minister to look into helping the Armenian community.