Greece might be facing its dramatic economic upheaval over the past five years, culminating in today’s referendum, but Greeks of the diaspora have their own worries. As the leading Melbourne based Greek-Australian community newspaper, Neos Kosmos reports, the Australian federal government plans to revise the pension status for expats.
Currently, there is a bilateral agreement between the governments of Greece and Australia that permits expats living in Greece, who are entitled to an Australian pension, to continue to receive their benefits abroad, and vice-versa. Neos Kosmos reports that Australian PM, Tony Abbott has sent a formal proposal to the Greek government to review the standing agreement. The existence of this document was confirmed by the coordinator of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE)-Oceania & Far East, Giorgios Angelopoulos.