The Greek Parliament is to vote on Thursday on a bill which paves the way for the lending of ancient and modern Greek artifacts to foreign museums for up to 50 years.

The bill provides for the possibility of borrowing movable monuments from Greek museums for 25 years, with the possibility of extending for an additional 25 years.

The Ministry of Culture says this will allow the country to promote Greek art and culture on a global basis, especially in areas where there is a strong expatriate element such as Australia and the US.

“The museums of our country have tens of millions of movable monuments, which are kept in their warehouses,” the Ministry says in a statement.

“Of these, some, selected by the museums themselves and after obtaining the approval of the competent services of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and of course the Central Archaeological Council, in full application of the provisions of the Archaeological Law (Law 3028/2002), will be able to be exhibited as a single collection with long-term borrowing in museums or exhibition spaces abroad, necessarily retaining the name of the museum that lends its objects.”

READ MORE: ‘Bid for the Benaki’: Greek Museum launches online art auction.

The statement goes on to say the bill will specifically help the Benaki Museum, which has been approached by the Hellenic Museum of Melbourne to house some of its collection outside of Greece.

READ MORE: New Benaki Museum in Melbourne set to be first of its kind outside of Greece.

“In this way, the identity of the Greek community is strengthened, the comparative advantage of its homeland is highlighted in the best way and people all over the world come in contact with the Greek culture,” the Ministry says in a statement.

The current legal framework stipulates that an object can be transferred from a museum in Greece to a museum abroad for only five years, with the possibility of extension for another five years after a new decision. This limit is greatly expanded with the new proposed regulation.

Disgraced former NSW Labor MP Milton Orkopoulos has avoided jail for flouting his reporting obligations as a convicted child sex offender, after a magistrate said the court’s power to impose a harsher sentence was “fettered”.

On Wednesday Local Court Magistrate Philip Stewart sentenced Orkopoulos to a two-year community correction order after convicting him of one count of failing to comply with his reporting obligations under the Child Protection (Offenders Registration) Act.

The charge related to the use of a non-authorised mobile phone with internet access to call his lawyer and his sister. This was a breach of his obligation to report to police details of “any carriage service used, or intended to be used” by him.

Orkopoulos pleaded guilty. During the sentencing process, the magistrate also took into account four other breaches, including setting up an Instagram account and speaking briefly to a child while on the phone to another adult.

The former MP was released on parole in December last year after serving 11½ years of his prison term of 13 years and eight months for sex offences against teenage boys and supplying them with drugs.

“Given the offender’s demonstrated attitude of ambivalence to his reporting obligations … I am unable to find that he is unlikely to reoffend,” Mr Stewart said.

He said 12 months’ imprisonment would “sheet home” to Orkopoulos the importance of compliance, and he was “not satisfied” the community would be protected by a non-custodial sentence when Orkopolous offended while on parole.

However, under the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act, the Local Court was prevented from imposing a new term of imprisonment “in circumstances where the offender is serving a sentence of 5 years or more”. Orkopoulos’ existing sentence does not expire until next year.

“The unintended consequence … is that a person serving a lengthy sentence can avoid further custodial penalty when dealt with in the Local Court, whereas a person with a less significant record or no record at all could be imprisoned,” Mr Stewart said.

“This effectively provides impunity for some offenders on parole serving lengthy sentences, including Mr Orkopoulos,” he said.

Under the community correction order, Orkopoulos is not allowed to use an internet-enabled phone, must abstain from drug use, and must continue participating in rehabilitation programs.

The breaches of reporting obligations were considered parole breaches by the State Parole Authority and Orkopoulos’ parole was revoked until the matters were dealt with in court.

Sourced By: Sydney Morning Herald

International travel bans will remain in place until at least March 17 as the federal government sets out to extend its biosecurity emergency period by another three months.

The move followed advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) that COVID-19 was an ongoing threat and still posed significant public health risk despite the emergence of the Pfizer vaccine.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the coronavirus situation was still escalating in many other countries.

“The disease is spreading as quickly as ever,” he said.

“The international world remains a challenging and dangerous environment and Australia won‘t be fully safe until the international community is safe.”

The biosecurity emergency period was set to end on December 17, but the three month extension meant limits would remain on outbound international travel and on international cruise ship arrivals.

Australians can only leave the country with specific exemptions, with Mr Hunt revealing 95,325 exemptions had been granted since the emergency period was first put in place on March 18.

The advice to extend the declaration was accepted by the National Security Committee and will be put to the Governor-General for final approval on Thursday.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said it was a difficult, but necessary decision.

“We weighed up all of the issues, as the Minister has pointed out, but particularly the ongoing situation internationally and the sort of risks that could come to Australia if we relaxed at this point,” he said.

Sourced By: news.com.au

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has sent a personalised message to Australia’s multicultural communities to thank them for the incredible service they have demonstrated during this difficult year.

The Prime Minister added that the task now is to complete the transition to a business-led economic recovery in a COVID-safe way, with hard-working multicultural communities and citizens being at the forefront.

Australian Prime Minister’s Message

This year has asked a great deal of our multicultural communities.

You’ve all been called on to make some very big sacrifices.

Especially when it comes to the social networks that bind you.

And your community and cultural activities, that reach out and bring joy to so many Australians.

You’ve all played a part, you’ve done whatever it takes, to keep each other safe.

That’s also meant enduring enormous disruption to your all-important faith traditions.  

Your perseverance and sacrifices underscore why Australia is the most successful multicultural nation in the world.

A place where we all buy in and draw strength from our shared values – such as mutual respect and individual responsibility.

By your efforts, you have helped the country that you have adopted – and that we all love – to lead the world in our response to the pandemic.

So today, I say thank you to our multicultural communities for everything you have done to help get us through this difficult year.

Leading on the health response has also enabled Australia to lead on the economic response.

The task now is to complete the transition to a business-led economic recovery in a COVID-safe way.

Our hard-working multicultural communities and citizens will be critical to this ambition.

That’s because they’re more likely to start and own a business.

They’re more likely to employ other Australians.

With eight out of 10 jobs in the private sector, we need businesses back out there employing people, investing and claiming the new ground.

Our Government will be supporting you, having already brought forward tax cuts and delivered a range of business incentives.

The recovery must also be about maximising job outcomes for migrants by helping them gain a strong command of English.

With this in mind, we recently made substantial changes to our Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).

The $1 billion program (over four years) provides eligible migrants with a legislated entitlement of 510 hours of free language tuition, but only 21 percent have been leaving with functional spoken English.

Learning a new language is complex and takes time. Research shows 510 hours is insufficient to reach functional English, and that for many people around 2000 hours may be required. 

Our changes mean that more migrants will be able to access free English language tuition for longer and until they reach a higher level of proficiency. 

As we look ahead to a better and brighter 2021, the unprecedented focus and investment on a coronavirus vaccine is returning very good early results.

I believe we will see a vaccine next year – boosting capacity and confidence around our ability to live and work with COVID-19.

Science and research is not just helping us fight the virus.

It’s at the heart of helping our economy and society grow back stronger.

Australians overwhelmingly appreciate the enormous contribution of our multicultural communities.

During this pandemic year, we’ve seen again why.

We’re getting through this together.

And I know people everywhere are excited about a return to the national days and the cultural and religious events, festivals and celebrations that make multicultural Australia so special.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, a wonderful summer and a happier new year.

Scott Morrison is the Prime Minister of Australia

The New South Wales Public Library Association announced on Wednesday the very first state-wide reading program, NSW Reads.

Described as a state-wide ‘book club’, from the 10th of December to the 17th of February 2021, library members across the state are encouraged to read Sydney author Andrew Pippos’s debut novel, Lucky’s (Picador).

READ MORE: Debut book by Andrew Pippos shines new light on Greek Australian cafés

NSW Reads will celebrate the migrant experiences of food and community as readers from all over the state share a reading experience.

“After a year that has been so isolating, it’s wonderful for readers to be able to come together and all read the same book” says NSW Public Libraries Association Executive Officer, Adele Casey.

“We are thrilled that Lucky’s is our pick for the first NSW Reads program. The librarians of New South Wales felt it was important to choose a novel with far reaching appeal.

“Lucky’s will resonate and deliver a sense of nostalgia to Australians of all ages in both metro and regional areas.” 

Described as “a must-read saga, and a gripping monument to Greek diaspora” by The Guardian Australia, central to the theme of Lucky’s is the iconic Greek milk bar/café businesses, found in so many Australian towns and suburbs.

Speaking to The Greek Herald upon his book launch, Andrew Pippos said he gained his love for writing under a massive olive tree beside the café in Brewarrina, where he would peel potatoes and carry out other chores. During this time, his family would tell him stories of Greek myths and legend, sparking his creative journey.

“These childhood conversations are where my love of literature begins,” Pippos said to The Greek Herald.

To celebrate NSW Reads, local libraries will host live events throughout February 2021.

Readers can join in an Instagram read-along via @nswlibraryevents, take part in an online panel discussion on Greek- Australian cafes past and present, and meet the author, Andrew Pippos, online in a Lucky’s ‘In Conversation’ with Amy Heap from the Riverina Regional Library.