SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia's Annual Gala honoured Mr. John Alexander MP for his exemplary commitment to human rights issues of importance to the Armenian-Australian community at Doltone House Hyde Park, as the community raised over $200,000 for Armenian-Australian advocacy.

The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) presented the 2020 ANC-AU Freedom Award, which is the organisation's highest honour, to the Federal Member for Bennelong for his unyielding dedication and advocacy promoting justice for the Armenian Genocide, peace and freedom for the Republic of Artsakh and all issues of importance to Armenian-Australians.

"The ANC-AU’s Freedom Award is presented to individuals who place the betterment of the Armenian people at an utmost premium, represent their truth in public life and champion their plight for freedom justice," said ANC-AU Executive Director, Haig Kayserian. "Mr. Alexander is the personification of what the Freedom Award embodies."

Mr. Alexander has been a long-standing advocate of the Armenian Genocide and a champion in defending the self-determination of indigenous Armenians in the Artsakh Republic. In May 2019,  he became one of the inaugural members of the Australian Friends of Artsakh network and, in September 2019, he made history as the first Federal Australian parliamentarian to visit the Republic of Artsakh.

Mr. Alexander’s visit earned him a place alongside many local and international political leaders on the persona non grata blacklist of Azerbaijan's dictator, Ilham Aliyev, which he recently referred to as "an honour".

Past recipients of this distinguished award include NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, U.S. Senator Robert Manendez, Film Director Terry George, German politician Cem Ozdemir, Australian Parliamentarian Joe Hockey, Armenian Studies pioneer Professor Richard Hovanissian, The Uniting Church in Australia, musician Serj Tankian and bestselling author Chris Bohjalian, among others.

Mr. Alexander's acceptance speech can be viewed by clicking here or watching below.