The Leader of the Australian Labor Party, Anthony Albanese, the Member for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou MP, and the Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas MP, have issued a letter today to Greek Australians to mark the anniversary of OXI Day.
Full letter in English:
Anthony Albanese MP, Leader of the Australian Labor Party
Maria Vamvakinou MP, Member for Calwell
Steve Georganas MP, Member for Adelaide
On behalf of the Australian Labor Party, we join the Greek Australian community in honouring Oxi Day.
What a profoundly important anniversary it is. Eighty-one years ago, on 28 October 1940, the Greek people faced the fascist threat looming over their nation and answered it with a resounding “Oxi” (No).
Australian and New Zealand soldiers went on to join the spirit of that “No”, fighting alongside brave Greek soldiers in the face of tyranny. Labor pays tribute to those who fought and those who endured.
That mighty “No” found its counterpart in the powerful “Yes” of the Greek people as they ensured that their nation rose again after the devastation of war.
Labor acknowledges the long friendship between Australia and Greece forged during the Second World War – and strengthened through the decades of Greek migration to Australia.
Many Greek Australians feel enormous admiration and solidarity for those who lived through this period of Greek history. Their ongoing contribution to Australia is shaped in no small part by the values that we honour on this most significant of days.
