Honorary Greek Consul General in QLD expresses disappointment over Australia’s UNESCO vote

·

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.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

How Maih Porfyri’s career pivot took her from fashion to the Paralympics

Maih Porfyri had only been in her job for a few months before she was whisked away on a trip to Paris to cover the Paralympic Games.

My partner doesn’t speak Greek – Can we still raise bilingual kids?

You can absolutely raise bilingual children, even if only one parent speaks Greek. Across the world, countless families do so successfully.

Joint bank accounts: Who gets the money?

All people named in a joint account are privy to the money by Law. Most of us have opened accounts at various bank branches.

Vergina considered among the world’s most mysterious destinations

Featured alongside global wonders, Vergina earns its place through a mystery that has eluded scholars for centuries.

Gender in Modern Greek: Dr Angeliki Alvanoudi to give online seminar

The aim of the seminar is to examine the role of Greek gendered terms in sustaining social gender ideologies that reinforce sexism.

You May Also Like

Ex-Artistic Director of Greece’s National Theater arrested, charged with rape

A well-known Greek stage actor and director of Greece's National Theatre, Dimitris Lignadis, has been arrested on rape charges.

New Andrew N. Liveris building officially opened at the University of Queensland

The Andrew N. Liveris building at the University of Queensland (UQ) was officially opened on April 13 to much fanfare.

Tickets on sale for first-ever Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament in Australia

The wait is over for basketball fans in Australia for the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament – being held outside of Europe for the first time.