Former Labor staffer Costas Socratous (photo) has called for a formal investigation into his allegations that he was engaged in branch-stacking on behalf of MPs Theo Theophanous and Telmo Languiller.
He also claims that Mr Theophanous and Mr Languiller have been running a smear campaign against him since mid-2009, calling into question his mental stability. Mr Socratous turned whistleblower last week when he alleged that Theo Theophanous masterminded extensive branch stacking in the ALP’s Albion and East Ardeer branches.
Mr Socratous told, “I was given money to pay for memberships and renewals of people that I know. I would approach them to become members and tell them not to worry about memberships, that they would be fixed by another way.” Mr Socratous said that he had been “targeted” by Mr Theophanous and Mr Languiller since being sacked last year.

“I have been pressured by these people,” said Mr Socratous said. “They have been harassing me in the media and everywhere.”

“I warned them that I would be coming out if they keep on harassing me.”
“They did not want to hear me, that is why we are where we are now,” he said.
“At the beginning I asked for an apology from Theo and Telmo and instead they sent me a letter telling me that under parliamentary order not me, nor anyone that represented me could speak to the media to offend them,” said Mr Socratous.

“On the other hand they let Theo loose making speeches humiliating me in parliament.”
One of the accusations made under parliamentary privilege was that Mr Socratous has a gambling habit, an accusation that Mr Socratous has denied.
In response to accusations that he is being groomed by the Liberal Opposition Mr Socratous said, “I went to the Liberals just for one thing, to make sure that they pressure them [the State Government] to call for an investigation.”
He alleged that in 2004 and 2005 when he and Telmo Languiller faced an ALP tribunal on claims of branch-stacking, that the ALP, “covered everything up and I don’t want this to happen again.” “The party covered everything up. After that I never made any new members, I just renewed existing members” said Mr Socratous.

Mr Theophanous has denied the allegations that he was the mastermind of the branch-stacking operation. He confirmed to Neos Kosmos that he was responsible for the distribution of funds to assist ALP members get re-elected, but denied any involvement in branch-stacking. “I was never in the position to know how the money was used.”
“If the money allocated to Mr Languiller’s seat of Derrimut was used improperly then its Mr Socratous’ responsibility,” Mr Theophanous told.
Mr Theophanous said that his lawyers have written to Mr Socratous, warning he will sue for defamation unless Mr Socratous unconditionally withdraws the branch-stacking allegations.
Mr Socratous says neither he nor his lawyers have received any such letter. “My lawyer has not received anything, but I am not worried because I know what I am saying and I have the facts,” said Mr Socratous.
It has been reported that Mr Languiller had gone to the police making allegations against Mr Socratous.

Speaking to Neos Kosmos from outside Sunshine police station, Mr Socratous said his own inquiries to police had revealed no such allegations.
Mr Socratous has also denied allegations by Mr Languiller that he sought compensation for stress.
(source: neos kosmos)

NUGAS Victoria put forward a generous $2000 donation to not-for-profit organisation, Agapi Care last Wednesday at the GOCMV in Melbourne.
The donation, which was accepted by Agapi Care Deputy Manager Mr Andreas Haralampidis and Executive Director Mrs Vicki Papadopoulos will go towards Agapi Care’s new development in the Clayton area.
“It is a primary aim of the NUGAS Victoria committee to contribute to an organisation in an area of need,” said NUGAS Victoria Administrative Co-ordinator Kerry Matthews.
“It is through events such as the NUGAS Annual Ball and other events throughout the year, with our affiliate University clubs, that we Greek Australian Students are able to give something back to the Greek Community and make a difference.”

Agapi Care is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to represent the interest of Greek Australians with a disability, as they have the same rights as other members of the community to access services which would enable them to live a fulfilling life in the community.
Currently Agapi Care provides a variety of services to people with disabilities at the respite care facilities in Preston and Oakleigh.
Funded solely by the Department of Humanitarian Services, Agapi Care depends on donations such as the annual Agapi Care radiothon, the people of the public and various other organisations.
(source: neos kosmos)

Australian shoppers can expect a hit to their hip pocket if the Greek economy continues to flounder, say leading importers of Greek-made products.
“Demand depends on price today, and Australia is a funny market, they go for price,” says Archie Tsoukras, owner of Tirnavos Food, Wine and Spirits.
His company supplies some of the biggest retailers in Australia, including Coles and Woolworths. He explains that as the value of the Australian dollar against the euro drops, the cost of importing products goes up. This price rise is then passed on to the retailer and subsequently the shopper.
“Some importers lock in rates, and I did, so for the next three months I’ll probably be alright, it won’t have any impact on me, but after that if the euro goes further down then we will have to increase the price,” he says, which could discourage market interest in Greek-made products.
It is also feared that supplies of Greek products could dry up altogether, if the Greek financial crisis gets any worse. Despite being largely privatised in Greece, the maritime industry is heavily unionised, which could see it shut down if strikes protesting the implementation of strict austerity measures spread to the docks.
This could see the cutting of supply lines out of Greece and the cessation of Greek products, including oils, cheeses and wines, hitting Australian shores.

National Marketing Manager of Flox Wines and Spirits, Loukas Papargiris, says lengthy delays could see contracts with large retailers compromised.
“The impact it will have here with the major liquor accounts like Dan Murphy’s and Woolworths stores is that if our product’s not on the shelves, they may in turn replace it with another product,” he says.
“We need the product here in order to maintain the product within the larger liquor accounts, that’s our main concern,” though he says the company has taken steps to minimise the damage.

“We tend to buy up large and we’ve already placed a few orders, so we’ve tried to pre-empt it.”
Both importers agree however, that if Greece is to stimulate international interest in its economy and thereby stave off a full-scale economic crash, it must proactively push exports harder.
“The only way to get out if this is to boost exports. And the only way to do it is to get off their arses and try to sell,” says Tsoukras.

Papargiris is taking it upon himself to promote Greek exports abroad, by becoming a buyer’s agent.
“I’m currently negotiating with a Greek company in Greece and they’re exporting through us to other countries because of the lack of Greek communication.”
He says that by providing a more professional Australian-based trade avenue with the rest of the world, Greek companies can ensure the value of their products does not drop on global markets.
“At present Greek companies are struggling pretty hard so they’re quite likely also to sell the product at any cost, which is something we try to avoid,” he says.
Keeping prices up stimulates economic growth by guaranteeing income for the producer, the exporter and the importer. An unfortunate consequence is a hit to the hip-pocket of shoppers.
(source: neos kosmos)