The Honorary Consul General of Greece in Queensland, George Dimitri Mastrocostas, has written to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Penny Wong MP, formally expressing his disappointment at Australia’s decision not to vote in favour of establishing February 9 as the International Day of the Greek Language at UNESCO.
The proposal—submitted by a record 87 countries—seeks to honour the enduring legacy and global significance of the Greek language. While the initiative passed unanimously, Australia, along with a small number of other countries, chose not to support the motion.
“This decision is deeply disheartening,” Mr Mastrocostas said. “The Greek language is not only a cornerstone of global civilisation—it is a living part of Australia’s multicultural identity. Australia’s choice not to vote in favour sends the wrong message to the hundreds of thousands of Greek Australians who have helped shape this nation.”
Greek has been formally recognised as one of Australia’s priority languages since 1987. With a rich cultural and historical presence across the country, the Greek community continues to play a vital role in Australia’s economic, cultural, and civic life.
In his official letter to Minister Wong, Mr Mastrocostas calls for a reconsideration of such positions in the future and urges the government to uphold the principles of inclusion and cultural respect.
“This is not just about language—it is about identity, heritage, and recognition. The Australian Government has missed a significant opportunity to stand in solidarity with its vibrant Greek community,” he added.
This comes as the Australian Government issued a statement today to The Greek Herald via a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong, expressing support for World Greek Language Day.
“The Albanese Labor Government supports and welcomes a new World Greek Language Day,” the statement reads.
“The Greek language has an enduring influence on contemporary Western culture, politics, and philosophy. We value the rich cultural contributions of our vibrant Greek diaspora in Australia and our strong bilateral relationship with Greece.
“We look forward to celebrating this day with Australian Greek communities in Australia on 9 February.”
Whilst the statement did not provide concrete reasons for the abstention, government sources clarified it was due to caretaker conventions in place during the recent UNESCO session, which occurred in the lead-up to an Australian election. These conventions prohibit Australia from co-sponsoring agenda items or making international commitments during an election period.
