Labor’s Federal Member for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou, missed the opening of the 47th parliament as a result of contracting COVID-19.
But Ms Vamvakinou returned to Federal Parliament this week and was sworn in, using her Greek Orthodox Bible, alongside former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and former Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce.
In the 47th Parliament, Ms Vamvakinou will assume the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, where she looks forward to working with the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Andrew Giles, and the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Clare O’Neil.
“I have been a member of the Migration Committee for a number of terms and I look forward to Chairing it as a member of the Albanese Labor Government,” Ms Vamvakinou said in a statement.
Ms Vamvakinou will also continue to be a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade where she will Chair the Human Rights Sub-Committee. Maria has also been re-appointed to the Speaker’s Panel.
“It was unfortunate that I contracted COVID-19 on the eve of returning to Parliament, but such is the situation for all of us at the moment as COVID is now endemic in our community,” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“I contracted COVID-19 one week before I was due to have my fourth booster and I am certain that the mildness of the symptoms I experienced are attributed to my being vaccinated.”
READ MORE: Bill Shorten and Maria Vamvakinou visit Melbourne’s Greek Centre.
