Federal MP Maria Vamvakinou paid a visit to the offices of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) on Tuesday, 15 March.

Ms Vamvakinou was welcomed by the President of the GCM Bill Papastergiadis, Vice President Anthea Sidiropoulos, and the members of the Board of Directors Mrs Spyridoula Dimitriou and Dr Nikos Dallas.

Issues concerning the GCM and the Greek community were discussed with Ms. Vamvakinou, such as the call of the Labor Party in Parliament for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

“It is an issue that as the Labor Party, and as politicians who have good and long-term relations with the Greek community, we are interested in and want to promote, so that one day we can achieve the return of the Parthenon Marbles,” Ms Vamvakinou said.

Mr. Papastergiadis welcomed the Opposition's initiative to submit a proposal to the federal parliament for the return of the Parthenon Marbles. "We applaud this move but also the way the government treats issues of multiculturalism.

"Our Greek Center has been characterized as the Parthenon of the Southern Hemisphere. This is very important for us. We are very happy with the proposal the Labor Party made, and we wish you success."

On behalf of the GCM Board of Directors, Ms. Anthea Sidiropoulos thanked Ms. Vamvakinou for her visit to the Greek Center.

"I thank Maria Vamvakinou for visiting us today. I wish you on behalf of the Board the all the best and especially to succeess with your initiative for the return of the Parthenon Marbles," she said.