Greek MP Speaks Greek in Australian Parliament as World Greek Language Day Gains Global Recognition

With dignity, symbolism, and a strong cultural message, World Greek Language Day was honoured in Australia’s Federal Parliament, highlighting the enduring global importance of the Greek language as a cornerstone of civilisation.

Greek-Australian Labor MP Steve Georganas delivered the keynote address during the parliamentary recognition of February 9 as World Greek Language Day, a date linked to the anniversary of the death of Greece’s national poet Dionysios Solomos.

In a powerful and deeply symbolic moment, Mr Georganas addressed the House of Representatives in Greek, prompting warm applause from MPs across party lines. The gesture moved beyond ceremony, offering a clear message about the living legacy of the Greek language as a carrier of history, identity, and shared values.

During his address, Mr Georganas highlighted Greek as one of the world’s oldest living languages, noting its foundational role in shaping global civilisation. He referenced key concepts that entered humanity’s shared vocabulary through Greek, including democracy, freedom, justice, logic, and philosophy—ideas that continue to underpin modern political systems, ethical thought, and scientific language.

He placed particular emphasis on philosophy, describing it as an intellectual legacy of ancient Greece and the foundation of systematic inquiry, arguing that Western thought and science would not have developed in the same way without the Greek linguistic and philosophical tradition.

Mr Georganas also highlighted the unbroken historical continuity of Greek, describing it as Europe’s oldest written language, with thousands of years of documented use, from the Homeric epics to modern Greek. He noted its rare distinction as one of the most thoroughly recorded languages in human history.

The parliamentary moment served not only as a tribute to the language of Homer and Solomos, but also as recognition of the vital role played by the Greek diaspora in Australia in preserving and promoting Greek cultural heritage. In a proudly multicultural society, the Greek language continues to act as a living bridge between past, present, and future—an enduring imprint of memory, education, and identity.

Sydney to Host 12th International Summer University on Greek Language, Culture and Media in September 2026