John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Bennelong is fortunate to have an active Armenian community, proudly displaying their great heritage, including a mayor and a local councillor. An issue of great importance to this community is the lack of appropriate recognition of the genocide by the Ottoman Empire, tragically linking our two nations, as Anzac troops landed in Gallipoli at the same time just a short distance away. The world has turned many times since then and the Turkish people welcome us back each year to commemorate a tragedy that has formed such an important part of our national legend. I look forward to the day that the Turkish and Armenian people can build a similar bridge and come to terms with their own tragedy. To Bennelong’s constituents of Armenian heritage: I extend to you my full support, as you carry this burden that weighs so heavily on your collective conscience.