The movement for the recognition of the Genocide of the Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks has gained momentum with three Victorian Members of Parliament mentioning the Genocide in addresses to Parliament this week.
The addresses come in the wake of a push last year to move a motion in the Parliament of Victoria to recognise the Genocide, by the Victorian Greens, which was ultimately abandoned.
At the time, over thirty five influential community groups, including Armenian, Assyrian, Greek, Kurdish, Cypriot, Tamil, Tigray, Lebanese, Indian, Hindu, Christian, and Islamic community groups wrote to Victorian MPs calling for the recognition. Despite this groundswell of community support, at the time, neither of the major parties indicated that they would support the motion.
Chris Crewther MP – Member for Mornington pressed the Allan Government to clarify their stance on Victoria’s role in aiding survivors of the Genocides.
Ann-Marie Hermans MP – Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan Region and Kim Wells MP – Member for Rowville made Private Members Statements on the issue, whilst Chris Crewther MP – Member for Mornington pressed the Allan Government to clarify their stance on Victoria’s role in aiding survivors of the Genocides.
On Wednesday, 2 April 2025, Ms Hermans, as Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan Region and Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Armenia in Victoria, addressed the Legislative Council as follows: “I rise to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, which commemorates the 110th anniversary of one of the gravest horrors of humanity. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians, 500,000 Assyrians and 350,000 Greeks were persecuted and murdered from 24 April 1915 to 1923.”
The next day, on Thursday, 3 April 2025, Ms Wells, as Member for Rowville and Secretary of the Parliamentary Friends of Armenia in Victoria, made the following statement in the Legislative Assembly: “This member’s statement is to acknowledge Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, which this year commemorates the 110th anniversary of this horrific event inflicted on Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians, which began on 24 April 1915.”
On the same day, Mr Crewther, as Member for Mornington, called upon the Victorian Government to clarify their position, given that Victorians, especially those in his electorate, played an important role at the time in providing aid to survivors of the Genocide.
Joint Justice Initiative activist Dean Kalimniou, welcomed the stance of the Victorian MPs on the Genocide.
“It is often cited that the Genocide was the first in the twentieth century. Sadly, it was not the last, with genocidal acts still being currently perpetrated around the world. This is why the recognition of the Genocide is fundamental and a condition precedent in the cause of reconciliation and the fight against racism and intolerance in all its forms,” Mr Kalimniou said.
“Increasingly Victorians are calling upon their political representatives of all persuasion to take a stance on this issue and we can see that principled Members of Parliament are heeding that call. We applaud any effort that has at its heart the championing of humanity and the promotion of peace.”
