Economist and former Finance Minister of Greece, Yanis Varoufakis, delivered a thought-provoking address at the National Press Club in Canberra.
During the address, Varoufakis shed light on what he perceives as a “common existential threat” that both Australia and Europe are facing. That is – a creeping irrelevance.
He argued that this threat arises from inadequate investment, as well as an “ill-considered slide from a strategic dependence on the United States to a non-strategic, self-defeating servility to Washington’s policy agenda.”
Today: Yanis Varoufakis, Academic Economist, Parliamentarian, Political Leader and Greece’s former Finance Minister, Addressed the National Press Club of Australia. Catch up on ABC iView.@hil_clix_pixpic.twitter.com/3HGVYuOt6l
Varoufakis also highlighted the disruptive impact of what he called the “New Cold War” on the business models of Australia and Europe.
He said the root of the “New Cold War” lies not in geopolitical flashpoints, but in a deeper clash between two competing socio-economic systems—one based on the dollar and the other on the yuan.
Varoufakis then cautioned against reducing the complexities of the New Cold War to mere territorial disputes or security concerns. Instead, he urged policymakers and observers to recognise it as a clash between contrasting economic models—one characterised by techno-feudalism and dominance in global finance.
Greece has officially unveiled new changes to the Olympic flame-lighting ceremony at Ancient Olympia, in Greece ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The National Herald revealed some of the proposed changes include a new High Priestess, a composer, and redesigned costumes.
These changes to the ceremony were presented at the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) on Tuesday, March 12.
During the Committee meeting, HOC thanked the sponsors and supporters of the Greek team, they presented the new High Priestess Mary Mina, and they revealed the new ceremonies’ composer Dimitris Papadimitriou.
A close up of actresses wearing the new priestesses costumes. Photo: Reuters/ Louisa Gouliamaki.
The redesigned costumes feature new black-and-white robes which are expected to be worn by the priestesses. During the Committee meeting, six male and female athletes also modelled the new Team Greece outfits, which were inspired by ancient Greece and designed by Mary Katrantzou.
HOC President Spyros Capralos expressed his gratitude to the sponsors for supporting over 200 athletes ahead of the Olympics.
The ceremony, which will be led by High Priestess Mary Mina and composer Dimitris Papadimitriou, will commence on April 16. The High Priestess will be using a curved mirror to ignite the torch on the day.
New high priestess, actress Mary Mina. Photo: REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki.
The Torch Relay will span across 11 days in Greece, before being passed on to Paris organizers on April 26. It will total a 68-day journey until the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Greek rower and Olympic medallist Stefanos Douskos is the first runner in the Torch Relay.
After the Olympic Flame is passed on to the Paris organisers, it will spend the night in the French Embassy, and then depart for France on the ‘Belem’ ship the next day.
On Wednesday, March 13, in the early hours of the morning, Greece’s frigate Hydra opened fire on two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Gulf of Aden.
Ekathimerini reported that following this, both drones immediately changed their course.
This marked the first engagement of the Hellenic Navy’s MEKO 200 frigate in the EU naval mission Aspides.
The two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) promptly moved after being fired at by the frigate. Photo: Australian Army.
The mission is designed to protect merchant ships from assaults by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi military.
Ever since Monday, March 11, when the Greek frigate – Hydra departed from Djibouti, it has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, three photos prompted historian Nick Seindanis to pen the history of the early Greeks of Port Pirie.
The idea of a book started from three unidentified photographs from the 1920s or 1930s, which had been circulating among the Castellorizian community in Adelaide, South Australia for 20 years.
1933 Port Pirie Greek School students and members of the Greek community in 1933.
Photo courtesy: Rose Cominos (Spartalis)
8. Nick Seindanis with sister Koula Korniotakis.
Somehow, a copy ended up into Nick’s possession and it became a two-year passion to record and document the lives of families who had lived and still live in Port Pirie.
Coincidentally, at the same time Nick was trying to solve the mystery of the photograph, his adult children, 27-year-old twins Apollo and Erini, were visiting their father. They suggested using social media and setting up a community page for people to join. Initially the 68-year-old Port Pirie resident wasn’t enthusiastic about the idea but with the twin’s help, the ‘History of the Port Pirie Greek Community’ page was launched on Facebook.
Late 1950s, a Greek social gathering. L-R Teeny Frangos, John Seindanis, Koula Frangos (Carapetis), Lena Seindanis (Frangos) and Fotis Frangos. Photo courtesy: Nick Seindanis.
1959 Queen Competition.
One of the biggest community fundraisers was the Queen contest. This involved
young women from the Port Pirie Greek community nominating as contestants.
Throughout that year the contestants along with their support team (mainly family)
would hold various fundraising events. The event would culminate at a major gala
event where the beautifully dressed contestants were presented to a large
community celebration (ball) amid the pageantry of having page boys and page girls,
royal staffs and crowns. The young woman who had raised the most money during
the year was crowned the Queen for that year.
L-R: Audrey Banos, Kaylene Xanthos, Angela Lamnisos, Queen Haridine (Teeny)
Frangos, Irene Mavromatis, Katherine Paul, Mary Petros, front John Monogios.
Lady Mayoress Welch placing the crown. Photo courtesy: Seindanis family.
1960 Christmas pageant entry waiting in front of St George Greek orthodox Church in Florence Street Port Pirie for Gregory Grigoras’ decorated truck. Back row (L-R): Soti Kokoti, George Katsikitis, Jim Mylonas, Louis Katsikitis, and George Kokoti. Girls Standing from Left: Denise Politis, Pat Perris (Coomblas), Nea Tsonis (Patralexis), Margaret Petros (Rupcic), Rose Spartalis (Cominos), Yvonne Kiosoglous, Loula Kiosoglous, Angela Lamnisos. Girls kneeling from left: Anne Stavropoulos, Ange Tsonis (Anastasiou), Nea Banos, Lois Tsouris (Papaelia), Anne Batounas. Photo courtesy: Christine Salih.
“I had three really old photos – that go back to 1933 and one a bit earlier – and some people had a go at identifying the people so my children suggested the social media idea,” Nick told The Greek Herald.
Dancing in late 1970s
Amalia Tefanis at the rear with Anna Nikolakopoulos. Kleo Kokoti leading the next
line with Christine Coomblas. Mrs Nikiforos in front who was famous for dancing all
night.
Photo courtesy: Amalia Tefanis (Vosnakis).
Kleo Kokoti 21st
Kloe Kokoti’s 21 st : from left George, Zoe, Kleo, Harry and Christine Kokoti.
Photo courtesy: Christine Salih.
“I posted the photo and within two days, 200 people from all over the world had joined.”
The Facebook page now has 700 members and is continuing to grow.
“We’ve had people post a photo asking who the bridesmaid is and I’ve posted it on Facebook and within two hours people will respond. It’s been really powerful tool,” he said.
Nick, who had worked in Human Resources at the Port Pirie smelter, has spent nearly two years compiling a 500-page book on the Greek community of Port Pirie, with the help of his sister Koula, the local community and ex-residents who were living interstate or overseas.
“I have a psychology and history degree and never used it,” he said.
“But I always had an interest in history and I’ve grown up in Port Pirie, so I know a lot about the Greek community.”
Port Pirie Greek Community office bearers – Fotis Seindanis (president), Chris Bishop (treasurer) and Koula Korniotakis (secretary) (centre). Photo courtesy: Greek Community of Port Pirie.
When the community’s centenary was coming up two years ago, Nick’s partner suggested doing something to celebrate the occasion. His great-grandfather had migrated to Port Pirie in 1924 and in 1955, his father jumped ship at Port Pirie.
“Just for a mark of respect, I thought I would do something, and it got bigger and bigger,” he said.
“The book took a full 18 months and we have just edited the final version after almost two years.”
The book titled History of Greeks in Port Pirie: Celebrating 100 Plus Years, has already pre-sold 400 copies. Other topics Nick writes about includes: the 1916 Secret Census of Pirie Greeks, school records dating to the 1890s, the Spanish flu, the 1926 Royal Commission into lead poisoning, cemetery records, soccer teams and Greek school photographs.
Nick, who volunteered his time, is feeling quietly proud of the book but acknowledges it would not have been possible without the support of sponsors, donors, the Port Pirie council and many others.
“I’m pretty proud. There are 150 personal stories written in the second half of the book that will make people cry,’’ he said.
Nick Seindanis with his book.
“These are people who lived in Asia Minor in 1918, who were shot at by Turks, but survived and ended up in Port Pirie via Castellorizo.
“My whole family is connected with Port Pirie and I wanted to preserve that – you won’t be able to find that information.”
One lesser-known fact Nick writes about in the book mentions why King Constantine, who was the ruling monarch in Greece in 1916, was holding back about going to war against the Germans because of being related to the Kaiser in Germany. This resulted in the relevant authorities undertaking a secret Census of Greeks in Australia.
‘We support his tireless work’:
Over the weekend, The Greek Museum of Adelaide Inc launched a display featuring the Greeks of Port Pirie for their latest exhibition.
On display are very old unseen photos, early photos of the Port Pirie smelter featuring the type of work the early migrants did, a copy of the secret Census and the original 1924 Greek Constitution.
The VIPs who attended included Federal Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas, Independent Member for Stuart, Geoff Brock; the Mayor of West Torrens, Michael Coxon; and City of West Torrens Councillor George Demetriou, who grew up in Port Pirie.
Attendees. All event photos are courtesy of Nick Seindanis – historian.
Attendees.
Nick Seindanis.
Councillor, George Demetriou.
Geoff Brock MP with Artha Dimitriou.
Guests.
Guests.
Guests.
Guests.
Guests.
Independent MP, Geoff Brock.
Steve Georganas MP.
Historian Nick attended with family members including Fotis (Fred) Seindanis, the President of the Greek Community of Port Pirie, secretary and his sister Koula Korniotakis, and his son Apollo Seindanis. Richard Law, who is the descendant of the first Greek resident of Port Pirie, and Miltiadis Dimitrios Bidzanis, also attended the exhibition. Miltiadis’ ancestor arrived in Port Adelaide in 1861 and became the second recorded Greek in SA, then moved to Port Pirie in 1873.
Sofia Orfanos, Secretary at the Greek Museum of Adelaide Inc, said the museum committee was keen to support the ‘tireless work of author Nick Seindanis,” once they heard that the Port Pirie Greek Community was celebrating their centenary.
“The Greek Museum not only engages with collecting and exhibiting artefacts but also in presenting aspects of Greek-Adelaidean social history, Sofia said.
“The Museum believes that Greek Australians are well placed to collect, archive, collate, exhibit and preserve and disseminate their own Social History(s) before it’s done for them.”
Exhibition details:
What: Centenary of Greek Community in Port Pirie (1924-2024)
Open: 11am and 3 pm Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays until March 31.
Where: Cowandilla Community Room, 175 Sir Donald Bradman Dr, Hilton
On a 31-degree day, with little humidity, the Brotherhood departed from Sydney’s Earlwood, but not without stopping at McDonald’s first for a coffee break.
They visited the Greek Orthodox Church of St Demetrios in Queanbeyan and attended the liturgy; everyone enjoyed morning tea in the church hall afterwards, later driving by the Australian War Memorial alongside Mount Ainslie Lookout for a group photo.
Brotherhood of Chalkidiki members.
Brotherhood of Chalkidiki enjoying lunch.
Costa Dantos (second from left), with the former Ambassador of Australia to the US, Arthur Spyrou (left) and Director at the Hellenic Club, John Loukadellis (second from right) with his son.
On the bus.
More of the group.
Enjoying the sun.
Costa Dantos, the Association’s President (right).
Not long after, they took a drive around Anzac Parade, Parliament House and the Hellenic Club of Canberra, continuing their travels around Embassy Drive. The final stop was at the Arboretum of Canberra before heading back to Sydney.
“Thank you to the amazing Chalkidikiotes we had a privilege to finally meet with at least someone from all Chalkidiki families in Canberra meeting with us. [Thenkyou to] the amazing Melba Pilavakis who helped make this happen, Tina Tsakirou, Tania Vlahos and Mr and Mrs Anne Kordalis!” the post read.
Highlights of the trip included music, jokes, and dancing, which helped to make the adventure a success along with a great turnout.
The Australian Business Summit Council Inc. (ASBC Inc.) hosted its annual Media Conference and Dinner at Le Montage Reception Centre in Lilyfield, New South Wales on March 7 to promote the imminent publication of the fifth issue of EKONOMOS, the official ABSC Inc. business affairs magazine.
More than 100 VIPs and guests enjoyed the exquisite food, unlimited beverages and networking opportunities in the five-star venue’s beautifully decorated Marquee room to celebrate this significant milestone attained by one of Australia’s most outstanding business management consulting forums.
The Australian Business Summit Council Inc. (ASBC Inc.) hosted its annual Media Conference and Dinner at Le Montage Reception Centre in Lilyfield, New South Wales on March 7.
ABSC Inc. president for the fifth consecutive year, Dr Frank Alafaci PhD welcomed the audience that had gathered for the occasion, including H.E. Mr. Ufuk Gezer (Ambassador of Turkey); H.E. Mr. Joe Tapera Mhishi (Ambassador of Zimbabwe / Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps); H.E. Mr. Ali Sevim (Consul General of Turkey); Ms Chrysa Prokopaki (Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Greece); Dr. Joseph Rizk AM (CEO / Managing Director of the Arab Bank Australia Ltd); Hon. Mr. Damien Tudehope (Leader of the NSW Opposition in the Legislative Council / Shadow Treasurer / Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations); Hon. Ms. Stephanie Di Pasqua MP (Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for Drummoyne); Mr. Michael Megna (Mayor of the City of Canada Bay); Mr. Frank De Masi (Councillor of the Hills Shire); and business leaders, community leaders, and representative members of the multicultural press.
The Australian Business Summit Council Inc. was founded on 20th December 2018 by an eminently qualified group of business leaders with its formal registration as an incorporated, not-for-profit association at New South Wales Fair Trading which seeks to promote the bona fide rights of Australian businesses and strengthen Australian entrepreneurialism both in the domestic market and internationally.
Under its charter, the ABSC Inc. serves as a medium for sound business policies and practices to promote a vibrant, sustainable economy in Australia.
Under its charter, the ABSC Inc. serves as a medium for sound business policies and practices to promote a vibrant, sustainable economy in Australia, enabling business leaders to network and augment business opportunities in Australia and abroad, as well as stimulating informative debates and discussions on issues pertaining to business relationships between Australia and the international community, and publishing an annual business affairs magazine, EKONOMOS, tailored to the general and specialised reading public alike, featuring well-written, comprehensive appraisals of the current business trends and forces impacting on economic growth by authoritative expert figures in the fields of finance, trade, investment, politics, and diplomacy drawn from the Australian and international communities.
ABSC Inc. president Dr Frank Alafaci PhD.
ABSC Inc. president Dr Frank Alafaci PhD. promoting the imminent publication of the fifth issue of EKONOMOS, the official ABSC Inc. business affairs magazine.
EKONOMOS, Issue 5, 2024 will present nineteen article contributions, led by the ABSC Inc. president Dr. Frank Alafaci PhD, including H.E. Mr. Ufuk Gezer (Ambassador of Turkey); H.E. Mr. Rade Stefanović (Ambassador of Serbia); H.E. Mr. Georgios Papakostas (former Ambassador of Greece); H.E. Dr. Nore-Eddine Benfreha (Ambassador of Algeria); H.E. Mr. Joe Tapera Mhishi (Ambassador of Zimbabwe / Dean of the African Diplomatic corps); H.E. Dr. Chanborey Cheunboran (Ambassador of Cambodia); H.E. Mr. Jaime Chomali Garib (Ambassador of Chile); H.E. Ms. Dianela Pi (Ambassador of Uruguay); H.E. Mr. Eduardo Peña Haller (former Ambassador of Mexico); H.E. Mr. Ronald Recinos (former Ambassador of Guatemala); H.E. Mrs. Marie Claire Jeanne Monty (High Commissioner of Mauritius); H.E. Mr. Mohamed Khalil Morsi (Consul General of Egypt); Dr. Joseph Rizk AM (CEO / Managing Director, Arab Bank Australia Ltd); Mr. Wally Mehanna (CEO, Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce); Ms. Charu Stevenson (Partner, Wotton Kearney); Dr. Anthony De Francesco (Managing Director, Real investment Analytics Pty Ltd); Mr. Ramy Qutami (Managing Director, Madison Marcus) and Mr. Eric Boone (Partner, Madison Marcus) as joint authors; and Prof. Emeritus Greg Whateley (Deputy Vice Chancellor, UBSS / CEO, Group Colleges Australia) and Prof. Ian Bofinger (CEO / Executive Dean, Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts) as joint article contributors.
H.E. Mr. Ufuk Gezer (Ambassador of Turkey).
H.E. Mr. Joe Tapera Mhishi (Ambassador of Zimbabwe / Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps).
Dr. Joseph Rizk AM (CEO / Managing Director of the Arab Bank Australia Ltd).
Hon. Mr. Damien Tudehope MLC (Leader of the NSW Opposition in the Legislative Council / Shadow Treasurer / Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations).
Hon. Ms. Stephanie Di Pasqua MP.
Hon. Ms. Stephanie Di Pasqua MP (Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for Drummoyne) delivered a special guest address, commending and bestowing a Community Service award to the ABSC Inc. president Dr Frank Alafaci PhD.
Hon. Ms. Stephanie Di Pasqua MP (Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for Drummoyne) delivered a special guest address, commending and bestowing a Community Service award to the ABSC Inc. president Dr Frank Alafaci PhD.
ABSC Inc. / Ekonomos.
Ekonomos.
Celebrations that followed.
ABSC Inc. / Ekonomos event.
In promoting the forthcoming publication of EKONOMOS, Issue 5, 2024, the Media Conference and Dinner featured keynote speeches by the H.E. Mr. Ufuk Gezer (Ambassador of Turkey), H.E. Mr. Joe Tapera Mhishi (Ambassador of Zimbabwe / Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps), Dr. Joseph Rizk AM (CEO / Managing Director of the Arab Bank Australia Ltd) and the Hon. Mr. Damien Tudehope MLC (Leader of the NSW Opposition in the Legislative Council / Shadow Treasurer / Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations), including an interactive 45 minute Question and Answer session on business, trade and investment moderated by the ABSC Inc. President, Dr. Frank Alafaci PhD between an exclusive VIP panel consisting of the evening’s keynote speakers and the members of the audience.
Highlighting the formalities at the Media Conference and Dinner, the Hon. Ms. Stephanie Di Pasqua MP (Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for Drummoyne) delivered a special guest address, commending and bestowing a Community Service award to the ABSC Inc. president Dr Frank Alafaci PhD for his persistent and successful efforts to promote Australian business, trade and investment and strengthen economic relations with the international community.
ABSC Inc. president, Dr. Frank Alafaci PhD formally concluded the Media Conference and Dinner with his public acknowledgement of the Council’s Board of Directors and the gold, silver and bronze sponsors of EKONOMOS, Issue 5, 2024, especially Mrs. Sylvia Alafaci, the ABSC Inc. secretary, for her steadfast dedication and gargantuan efforts in securing the magnificent venue for the occasion, sending out most of the invitations to the guests, preparing the immaculate table arrangements and floral decorations, and communicating with Le Montage’s events management team spearheaded by Mr. Dominic Hanna and Mr. Stephen Melani.
Associate Professor Vicki Kotsirilos AM, medical practitioner and regular keynote speaker, will give an insightful talk in April on ‘Hippocrates and Modern Medicine’ exploring the enduring legacy of the ancient Greek ‘Father of Medicine.’
The presentation will be held on April 7, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, at the Hellenic Museum, 280 William St, Melbourne.
Event Synopsis:
Hippocrates (460 to 377 BC), the ancient Greek physician, is referred to as the “father of modern medicine”. Born on the island of Kos 460BC, nearly 2500 thousand years ago, Hippocrates was an Influential ancient Greek physician and teacher. He set up a school at the Asklepion [a healing temple] and taught medicine. The Asklepion is now an archaeological monument on the island Kos.
Hippocrates was well ahead of his time as his teachings shaped the foundations of modern medicine, and continue to remain relevant today.
Hippocratic medicine moved away from supernatural thinking such as “disease was a punishment for sin” and attributing medical conditions to divine intervention, towards more rational approaches for understanding the human body. The developments provided more “scientific” and rational reasons for ailments, making diagnoses and prescribing lifestyle advice such as diet, exercise, rest, hygiene, and sleep.
Whilst Hippocrates’ approach was not backed by the same scientific evidence and rigour of today, his methods of observation, empirical learning and clinical knowledge brought him to the conclusion that lifestyle changes, the climate, and environment manifested and impacted diseases.
It was Hippocratic thinking that started the trend on treating the body as a “whole” – the concept of holistic health care. Hippocrates stressed the idea of balance between mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, and that disease was a disturbance of this balance.
Hippocrates also first described that the human body could heal itself if given the right conditions and that good health can return to normal with a “moderate diet”, “walking for good health” and “a strong belief that patients with good spirit will recover faster”.
You could say these concepts are the beginnings that we appreciate today – self-care, a healthy lifestyle and encouraging patients to take more control of their health.
Hippocratic quotes include:
“The natural healing force within each of us is the greatest force in getting well,” meaning we all have the ability to heal.
“It’s far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has.”
Hippocrates also advised his doctors to have a “cheerful face and special care for their patients” – the importance of a good doctor-patient relationship which we value. “Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always,” he said.
We are also aware of the Hippocratic Oath, the cornerstone of medical ethical practice and the emphasis on treatments to “do no harm.”
The Hippocratic Corpus or Hippocratic Collection consists of about 60 ancient Greek medical works associated with Hippocrates and his teaching. The Collection covers many diverse aspects of medicine from Hippocrates’ medical theories, to ethics in medical practice, and addressing various illnesses. It varied in content, time, style, methods, and views practiced, so it was likely compiled by students and other physicians at different stages.
Hellenic museum presents Hippocrates and modern medicine.
Hippocratic teachings and therapies included massage, surgical skills, and herbal medicine for the treatment of diseases. Herbs are still used today but over the years have since been replaced with pharmaceutical medicines.
At this exciting event, Professor Vicki Kotsirilos will present the principles and philosophy of Hippocratic teaching, how lifestyle advice provided by Hippocrates are still relevant today, and which herbs used by Hippocrates have some scientific validity proven to demonstrate efficacy today. Hippocrates certainly played an important role in shaping today’s medicine and our approach to patient care, and for some of the therapies and procedures we continue to use today.
About the Presenter
Associate Professor Vicki Kotsirilos AM is a well-known, respected medical practitioner and adjunct Professor with the University of Western Sydney. She has visited the birthplace of Hippocrates on the island of Kos, and sourced information from the local Hippocrates Library and Asclepeon (a healing centre in honor of the God of Healing, Asclepius.)
Assoc. Prof. Kotsirilos has delivered numerous public talks, including as a keynote presenter on the works of Hippocrates at the Medico-legal Society Conference held on the island of Kos in 2011, and with The Hellenic Medical Society of Australia (HMSA) in 2018. She has published over 150 articles on various medical topics across a number of medical journals and public magazines, including the Medical Journal of Australia Insight, Prevention magazine, Australian Doctor, Medical Observer, and the Medical Republic.
Her work has seen her awarded a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2016, and an Australia Day Environmental Award by Bayside City Council in 2017, among others. Assoc. Prof. Kotsirilos’ goal and passion is rooted in helping our society maintain a healthy community and population and preserving and protecting our natural environment for future generations to enjoy.
A fall in Greek, Italian, Balkan and Arabic speakers on Australian building sites have sparked warnings of labour shortages and construction cost blowouts under current migration settings.
According toThe Australian, a HIA analysis has revealed a major pivot to Asia, with a 56 per cent increase in construction workers speaking a language other than English from there.
Census figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics also showcase that 16.4% of the overall construction workforce speaks a language other than English at home, and in keeping with migratory patterns, the numbers show that a bigger proportion of migrants arrive from Asia and less from Europe.
Greek-speaking builders fell from 8.9 per cent to 5.6 per cent, while Croatian, Serbian and Macedonian-speaking construction workers dropped out of the top 10 and were replaced by Punjabi, Hazaraghi and Korean-speakers.
The HIA and Master Builders Australia have voiced concern that the Albanese government’s migration review fails to address the need for more targeted and expedited pathways for skilled construction workers.
The HIA and Master Builders Australia have raised concerns the Albanese government’s migration review failed to address the need for targeted and faster pathways for skilled construction workers. Photo: The Australian.
The leader of the HIA’s future workforce and industry research unit, Mr Murray, said the increased cultural and linguistic diversity in the construction sector over the past decade “reflects Australia’s success as a multicultural society … much of this cultural and linguistic diversity is from migration … however, the construction industry still rates very poorly when compared to other sectors when it comes to recruiting migrant workers”.
“Without these workers, there is very little chance of building the 1.2 million homes the government aims to deliver over the next five years,” Murray said.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russian President, Vladimir Putin must have been “sick” when he launched a missile strike on the port city of Odesa last week during Prime Minister Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis‘ visit.
According to Ekathimerini, Zelenskyy reiterated the atrociousness of the attack in response to a journalist from French broadcaster, BFMTV, who was asking if the Ukrainian President thought Putin was trying to “kill” him.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center left, and Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Odesa. Photo: NBC.
“When we are at war and when we have the leader of Greece, or the leader of any state, and you, no matter what your goal is, you take dangerous steps and launch a ballistic missile several hundred meters from where that leader is, then I think that you must be sick.”
SA-BEST MLC Connie Bonaros on Wednesday introduced legislation that called on the state government to develop and execute a plan to eradicate asbestos from the land, buildings and facilities of the schools and preschools within the next 10 years.
Bonaros asserted it was imperative that the government established a clear and actionable plan to tackle asbestos legacy issues in schools.
According to Adelaide Now, figures released to Bonaros under Freedom of Information revealed the names of the school and preschool sites on the asbestos register.
SCHOOLS ASBESTOS LIST. Photo The Advertiser.
“Safe enough is not good enough. The deadly consequences of asbestos exposure are well-documented – it’s simply not worth the risk” Bonaros said.
“A proactive approach to asbestos awareness is pertinent in helping the school communities understand the necessity in removing all asbestos in our schools.”
Asbestos is lying dormant in more than 500 government schools and preschools across South Australia, new data shows; exposure to asbestos fibres can cause diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Education Minister, Blair Boyer said the government would consider Bonaros’ bill while the statewide asbestos register ensured ongoing monitoring of sites.
