September 2021 GREEK TRIBUNE www.greektribune.com.au - Μοbile: 04 0886 5004 - Email: [email protected] AUSTRALIAN NEWS SA community hold vigil in South Australia closes support of Afghani people Last Saturday night, any assistance that South South Australia’s Afghan Australia can provide to border to Victoria Community held a vigil at help Australia’s response South Australians will need “Hopefully, we’ll see a reduc- People fleeing domestic vio- Victoria Square to reflect effort”, he concluded. a specific exemption to return tion in case numbers and the lence will be subject to level 5 on the deeply distressing Australia’s Immigration home from Victoria from 6:00pm lockdown arrangements in that requirements, which include situation that is unfolding Minister Alex Hawke has Sunday as the COVID-19 situa- state get on top of the current COVID-9 tests on days one, five in Afghanistan. announced the govern- tion deteriorates in the eastern outbreak.” and 13, 14 days of quarantine Amongst the several ment will allocate 3,000 state, SA’s Police Commissioner The increased restrictions are and wearing a mask at any time hundred people attend- places to refugees from says. in response to the Victorian gov- that they come into contact with ing the event, were, the Afghanistan due to the It puts Victoria on par with ernment’s statewide lockdown, the public for 14 days after their South Australian Premier unfolding crisis. New South Wales, where some after positive cases were identi- arrival in SA. Stephen Marshall, the Ms Wahidi, who is SA residents have been stranded fied in regional parts of the state. Currently, in SA Level 1 Leader of the Opposition the vice president of for weeks waiting for permission Commissioner Stevens said restrictions apply. That means, 3 Peter Malinauskas, CEO the Afghan Women’s to come back. authorities were giving a day’s persons per 4 square metres (for of Migrant Resource Organisation in Victoria, According to the ABC, at this notice on the direction to prevent seated activities) are allowed. Centre Eugenia Tsoulis, said that number was stage, the 70 kilometre cross- “excessive” queues forming at Seated food and beverage con- President of the Afghan “just not okay” in the face border bubble will remain. the state border. sumption only. Community SA Hussain of the unfolding humani- “That’s for this current point Under the new rules, anyone One person per 2 square Razaiat, Chair of tarian crisis. in time — we will obviously con- who wants to travel into South metres (for non-seated activities). SAMEAC Adriana ”We do implore the South Australian Police Commis- Christopoulos and Morrison government to tinue to assess the situation Australia from Victoria will be Home gatherings are capped sioner Grant Stevens members of SAMEAC, open more humanitar- in Victoria as it goes,” Police classified as level 6 and will have at 20 people including residents Commissioner Grant Stevens to apply for exemptions to enter of the home. capped at 50 people and masks members of the African ian visas and welcome are essential. Communities Council more refugees from said. through SA Health. Funerals and weddings are of South Australia, the Afghanistan,” she said. President Bill Gonis and South Australian members of the Greek Labor Leader Peter Orthodox Community of Malinauskas, said if we "Foreign ownership of water not a concern" SA and many more. are serious about sup- There was no need for major changes to “I know many have porting the the Afgani the way Australia records foreign ownership watched in horror at imag- community, we must start of water, according to the Productivity es coming out of Kabul by granting the 4200 Commission. and Afghanistan- images Afghan nationals who As reported by the ABC, currently, 11 of despair and despera- are already in Australia per cent of Australia's water is owned by tion”, Premier Marshall on temporary protection foreigners, with the highest proportion of said. visas (TPV) a path to per- foreign-owned water held in Queensland and “But South Australia manent residency and Western Australia. stands shoulder to shoul- ultimately Australian citi- der in solidarity with all zenship. Since 2017, any foreign person who those affected by the “As the South acquires a water asset has been required to Afghan conflict, including Australian Labor Leader I notify the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). our serving and ex-serv- call on the Federal Govt to Canada is the foreign nation that holds ing communities. show some compassion the most overseas-owned Australian water, “I have discussed the and let these 4200 individ- ahead of China, USA and the UK. situation with the Prime uals know that they really Water is able to be owned because the Minister and offered him can call Australia home”. water reforms over the past 30 years have supported the development of markets for water. The thinking is that creating water Ethnic Communities entitlements as tradable assets has allowed water to be used more efficiently and has A photo of the Murray River snaking its way through parched brown land, south of Renmark. call for solidarity with provided new opportunities to invest capital — from both domestic and foreign sources. terms linked to its use. generally support it," the commission said in Afghani people A draft report released by the commission In its report, the commission noted that its report. on Tuesday found that few Australians were the public perception of foreign ownership The report said that major industry groups “The Ethnic Com- Afghanis on temporary aware of the Register of Foreign Ownership of water was often not shared by mining and from the farm and mining sectors rarely raised munities’ Council of visas or under Australian of Water Entitlements, but that the information farming industries, which were responsible for foreign ownership of water as a concern. NSW declares solidarity jurisdiction, in light of it provided was sufficient. most water ownership. The commission said few water market with the Afghan people their increasingly vulner- The report made three recommendations: "The Australian community generally participants referred to the register and in their hour of most able situation and severe That state and territory governments link perceives the risks and threats associated suggested that "maybe not a great deal" need,” said ECC NSW state of affairs, perma- their water registers to the foreign register with foreign investment more prominently would change if the register did not exist. Chair Peter Doukas nent visa status - it is a of water entitlements, and inform foreign than the benefits. "The commission considers it unlikely OAM. “We watch with basic, immediate and entitlement holders to register with the ATO; "In contrast, the commission has observed that, in the absence of the register, the horror the violence meaningful humanitar- That future ATO reports identify farm that the agricultural and mining sectors, Australian Government would significantly inflicted by the Taliban ian contribution Australia landholders among water registrants; which are the predominant holders of water tighten its policies for foreign investment or and the devastating can and should make.” That the ATO better explain the mandatory entitlements, have few concerns about water markets in response to pressure from impact this bears for the The ECC NSW, the need for the foreign register and various foreign investment in water entitlements and community members," it said. people of Afghanistan peak body representing and Afghanis across culturally and linguistical- Australia distressed and ly diverse communities painting as well as handicraft deeply affected by a fast- in NSW, believes non- ODYSSEY FESTIVAL and costumes. devolving crisis.” repatriation of Afghanis is “Enjoy a variety of comedy “We call on the the correct decision and Coming Soon! Community Life theatre productions and revis- Australian government to that we should recon- “The Greek Orthodox it the Greek 60s with a special fast-track all humanitar- sider the current scope Community of South Australia music dress up night dedicated ian aid to those who are of our humanitarian proudly presents Adelaide’s to the golden era of music and suffering in Afghanistan, intake for the purpose of Hellenic Cultural Festival fashion. as well as extend sup- accepting persons flee- ODYSSEY, celebrating 15 “Greek cinema fans, get port services as required ing Afghanistan. years of Greek culture in South ready for the latest films from to members of Afghan “The ECC NSW Australia this year”, says an Greece as the 27th Greek Film communities in Australia offers its support to the annnouncement sent to the Festival kicks off in October fea- in these most extreme Australian Government Greek Tribune.. turing top comedy and drama circumstances” said to ensure it responds to After last year’s cancellation films at Palace Nova cinemas. Doukas. this emerging humani- of the event due to COVID-19, “From October 1 to “We urge the Federal tarian catastrophe,” con- we return this year with a brand November 14 Adelaide’s vibe Government to grant cluded Doukas. new schedule for all to enjoy. turns Hellenic and we invite the “We invite the whole com- community to be part of this munity to come celebrate with exciting cultural program. GREEK COMMUNITY TRIBUNE us and enjoy every aspect of The official program and ABN: 52366840467 Hellenism through the arts and other announcements will be entertainment. published very soon, so stay Correspondence to: The Editor, “Feel the cultural pulse The icon procession around the building block, at the Greek Orthodox tuned for updates and informa- BOX 330, FULHAM GARDENS, with this year’s theme Community Church of Panayia, Croydon on 15 August 2021 tion on how, where and when “Celebrating 200 and 90 Years you can enjoy your favourite SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 5024 of Independence” namely the “Indulge your senses with the events and productions, from Odyssey event or events.