Jacinta Allan pens letter to British PM Keir Starmer
Originally published in Greekcitytimes
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has formally called for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece in an official letter addressed to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The appeal was made public during her speech to thousands of attendees at Melbourne’s Antipodes Festival on Saturday, where she celebrated the profound influence of Greek culture and history.
Joined by Greek-Australian ministers and community leaders, Allan highlighted Greece’s enduring contributions to the world—from philosophy and science to art, architecture, and the foundations of democracy. The event featured a vibrant display of Hellenic pride, with state ministers Steve Dimopoulos (Tourism, Sport and Major Events) and Nick Staikos (Police), assistant ministers Lee Tarlamis and Kat Theophanous, federal Housing Minister Clare O’Neil, and other Greek-Australians dressed in ancient Greek attire.
Addressing the crowd at the 37th Antipodes Festival on Lonsdale Street, Allan said:
“It’s my absolute privilege to join you today to celebrate Hellenic culture and history. From Macedonia to Cyprus, and here in Melbourne, Greece has shaped the world. Her gifts—philosophy, science, art, architecture, and democracy—are lasting. And her people, wherever they are, embody pride, strength, courage, and resilience.”
Melbourne: Greece’s Third City
Allan paid tribute to the Greek diaspora, noting Melbourne’s reputation as Greece’s third-largest city after Athens and Thessaloniki. “Whether in Thornbury, Brunswick, Oakleigh, or here on Lonsdale Street, the power of Greek culture and community shines through,” she said.
She acknowledged the generations of Greek Victorians who arrived with little more than hope and hard work, building homes, businesses, and families. “You’ve created a strong, proud Greek community that’s helped shape a strong, proud Victoria,” Allan told the crowd. “Your history and culture are part of who we are today—a message that belongs here and at 10 Downing Street.”
A Call for Justice
Turning to the Parthenon Marbles, Allan was unequivocal: “I’ve written to the British Prime Minister calling for their return. This priceless treasure was stolen, and it’s long past time it was given back. The Marbles are more than artefacts—they’re a vital part of Greece’s soul. They belong at the Parthenon, completing its majesty.”
Allan expressed her personal longing to visit Greece, envisioning a day when she could witness the Acropolis with the Marbles restored. “For now,” she added with a nod to a local replica on Lonsdale Street, “I’ll cherish this tribute to Greek and Melbourne history.”
Gratitude to a Community Leader
The Premier concluded by thanking the Greek community for its contributions to Victoria, reserving special praise for Bill Papastergiadis, a prominent figure in Melbourne’s Greek diaspora. “Bill, your leadership, passion, and dedication to this incredible community inspire us all,” she said.
The letter to Starmer marks a significant gesture from Victoria, amplifying a decades-long international campaign to reunite the Parthenon Marbles—removed from Greece in the early 19th century by Lord Elgin—with their ancestral home.
Photo caption: Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (third from right) with Greek-Australian ministers and community members at the Antipodes Festival. Pictured. Photo by Nick Bourdanotis copyright