August 2020 GREEK TRIBUNE www.greektribune.com.au - Μοbile: 04 0886 5004 - Email: [email protected] AUSTRALIAN NEWS COVID19 CRISIS Australian wine producers hit hard Dry conditions, Hunter Valley recorded bushfires and extreme one of its worst harvests Unemployment at 7.4% weather events have left in decades, losing 80 per The official numbers from the subsidy program will continue Australia’s wine industry cent of its wine grapes to Bureau of Statistics show unem- to receive support beyond ruing its smallest vintage smoke-taint. ployment passing a two-decade the planned JobSeeker and in 13 years, as growers Mr Tyrrell said if high, reaching 7.4 per cent in JobKeeper end date. and winemakers battle grapes had high levels June. The JobKeeper wage subsidy huge financial losses. of smoke-taint the wines The true picture is much will continue until March next The latest figures from could carry “ashy, quite worse, with the Treasurer admit- year, but payments will fall from Wine Australia reveal bitter and quite off-putting ting earlier this week that unem- $1,500 to $1,200 a fortnight after the 2020 national wine- characters”. ployment would be above 13 per September. People working fewer grape crush of $1.52 mil- Chair of the Riverland cent without Government sup- than 20 hours a week will receive lion tonnes, equivalent Winegrape Growers ports like JobKeeper. $750. to more than one billion Association Brett Proud “The easing of COVID- The payments will fall again litres of wine, was 13 per said high water prices put 19 restrictions in June saw to $1,000 a fortnight, and $650 a cent below the 10-year the wine industry at risk. an extra 280,000 people in the fortnight for people working fewer average of 1.75 million (Supplied: Brett Proud) labour force, with more people in than 20 hours, for the first three tonnes. Meanwhile, grow- employment, and more actively months of 2021. According to the ABC ers in Australia’s largest looking and available for work,” The JobSeeker coronavirus it could have been worse wine production region, said Bjorn Jarvis from the ABS. supplement will continue for South Australian Premier Stephen Marshall and Chief Public Health — Australia’s three large the Riverland, also expe- The Morrison Government another three months but fall Officer for SA, Professor Nicola Spurrier inland regions Riverland, rienced a major hail storm announced that the JobKeeper from $550 to $250 a fortnight, said there have been over 13,000 last Friday, that South Australia Murray Darling Swan-Hill and extreme heat, which Payment will be extended by meaning people on the program confirmed cases in Australia and is again strengthening its bor- and Riverina, together reduced yields. six months to 28 March 2021 will receive $815 a fortnight after sadly 139 people have died. der controls with Victoria, ban- make up 75 per cent of Chair of Riverland and the temporary Coronavirus September. The Victorian outbreak has ning anyone, including South the national crush — and Winegrape Growers Supplement for those on income The revised JobSeeker meant that there are now around Australians, from entering the those regions only had a Association Brett Proud support will be extended until 31 program will allow recipients 4,000 active cases in Australia. state from midnight last Tuesday. total yield reduction of 4 said, while growers hit by December 2020. to earn $300 a fortnight before Daily infection rates have Also from midnight Tuesday, there per cent. hail saw significant grape Payments will be cut, facing a reduction in their remained low in all states and ter- will is a cap of 100 people on However, the remain- and financial losses, but unemployed Australians Government payment. ritories, other than Victoria. funerals and weddings, and home ing regions collectively extreme temperatures and workers on the Federal In the meantime the Acting South Australian Premier gatherings will be capped at up to experienced a 34 per and high prices for water Government's coronavirus wage Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly, Stephen Marshall has announced 50 people. cent yield reduction, with were also major challeng- individual regions fairing es for the region’s pro- much worse. ducers. Wine Australia chief “High water prices are executive officer Andreas putting the wine industry GOCSA protests against Ayia Sophia provocation Clark said, despite the at risk,” Mr Proud said. The Greek Orthodox philanthropic goals and also col- and work with the wider com- The Hagia Sophia as men- expectation of high qual- “There are some Community of SA has written to laborate with people who share munity in a more supportive tioned is part of the UNESCO ity 2020 wines, many indi- growers now who realise the Prime Minister of Australia similar visions. and mentoring role. This was World Heritage site in Istanbul. vidual growers and wine- they can make more Mr Scott Morrison asking him to We have been a vibrant and recently accomplished by secur- For almost a millennium after its makers were wiped out or profit out of trading their add his Government’s voice to active community organization ing the operation of the Camden construction, it was the largest saw significant losses. water entitlements or the worldwide condemnation of for many years. Our Community Community Centre to grow and cathedral in all of Christendom. Tyrrell’s Wines Chris trading their water allo- Turkish President Recep Tayip provides many programs and develop it further through a vari- It served as a centre of religious, Tyrrell told ABC News, cations year by year so Ertogan’s recent move to con- services to its members and ety of programs and partner- political, and artistic life for the the bushfires had a sig- unless wineries and vine- vert Ayia Sophia to a mosque. the community at large. Such ships for the local community. Byzantine world and has provid- nificant impact on their yards are profitable in “The Greek Orthodox services include: programs for As you may be aware, ed us with many useful scholarly family business. time the wine industry is Community of South Australia social integration, Aged Care, the decision last week by the insights into the period. Tyrrell’s Wines in the really under threat.” (GOCSA) was established in religious and social services, Turkish authorities to convert Internationally and here in October 1930, specifically for services to the elderly, youth, Hagia Sophia to a mosque Australia many people have the assistance of the Hellenic & women, education in the shocked and surprised commu- been dismayed and disappoint- community arriving as migrants Greek language, history and cul- nities and countries worldwide”. ed to hear the Turkish Republic Wage theft investigation from 1930-1970 and we are one ture, sports and many cultural The letter, signed by the have converted the World of the largest and most active activities. The GOCSA has also President and the General Heritage listed Hagia Sophia reveals the truth organisations in SA as well as played a key role in shaping a Secretary of GOCSA, states monument to being a mosque. One in five South overarching recommend- one of the oldest. more multicultural and demo- that “Hagia Sophia is a sig- Please Prime Minister add Australian workers are ations: Over the years the Greek cratic Australian society. Its nificant cultural monument your voice of concern and likely to be affected by • The creation of greater Orthodox Community of South strength and vitality stem from acknowledged by UNESCO the support of the Australian wage theft, according to oversight and regulation. Australia has served and contin- its broad based community aims to be of World significance. It Government to this critical issue an interim report from the • An increase in ues to serve not only the Greek and activities, its willingness plays a substantial role as a which has been condemned State Parliamentary Wage penalties for offenders. Theft Committee. • The streamlining for Community but the broader to respond to and serve social symbol of Christianity for many worldwide by many world lead- The interim report, court processes in pursuit community adapting to its needs. people around the world, includ- ers and ask that the monument which was handed down of underpayment claims. changing needs. As an organi- These days our Community ing Australians of Greek back- is reinstated as a World Heritage to the Legislative Council, The committee will zation we have broadened our focus has grown to embrace ground. museum”, the letter concludes. confirmed the widespread continue its investigation, impact the issue is having focusing on the effects of country”, he said. on South Australians. COVID19 on workers. We do not Forget Justice for Cyprus Chair Peter Wage theft doesn't "The report shows Ppiros, said Turkey is escalating just hurt employees, it that wherever you find Cyprus 1974 Community Life its provocations in the region by also allows dishonest young workers, casual The Cypriot community in invading Cyprus territorial waters businesses to undercut employees and women in South Australia held a commem- and threatening Greece and employers who do the right the workforce, you will find orative event to condemn the mil- Cyprus with military action. thing. wage theft", Parliamentary itary coup by the Greek junta and An indication of Turkish arro- Evidence also high- Wage Theft Committee EOKA B’ and the Turkish invasion gance, and disrespect towards lighted the Fair Work Chair Irene Pnevmatikos of Cyprus in the summer of 1974. international community, is the Ombudsman is under said. On Sunday 19 July, the recent decision to convert Ayia resourced and lacks staff "The current mechan- Justice for Cyprus Committee Sophia into a mosque. “Erdogan to police existing legislation isms to prevent wage (SEKA) in conjunction with the is intensifying the religious and regarding underpayment, theft aren’t working and Cyprus Community of South nationalistic rivalries in order to indicating the need for they make all workers Australia held a wreath laying fanatize and mobilize support reform.