Philip Dalidakis Appointed Victoria’s New Small Business Minister

Greek-Australian politician and Victorian Legislative Council for Southern Metropolitan Region member Philip Alexander Dalidakis was appointed as Victoria’s new Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade after Adem Somyurek’s resignation.

Somyurek quit on Tuesday after he was accused of bullying his former chief of staff, Dimity Paul, and sacking another staffer, who tried to intervene, in his office, offering his position to the former executive officer of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries and former deputy chief of staff to Senator Steven Conroy, Philip Dalidakis.

The 48th Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, as well as several political and civic operators and members of Victoria’s Labour Party were gathered on Sunday, August 2, at the political office of Dalidakis in Bentleigh in order to welcome his appointment.

“I feel really lucky that I was appointed to this new position after my eight month term in the Parliament of Victoria. I have great commercial and financial experience in the private sector and during the last 10 years I have gained political experience as well. I believe that the knowledge I have acquired from both public and private sectors consists a solid foundation that will definitely help me to successfully fulfill my new duties,” Dalidakis revealed to Greek Reporter.

Mr. Dalidakis also referred to his homeland, Greece, and the great support he receives from the Greek community, saying: “I just got back from Greece where I had the great honor of speaking in the Greek Parliament. My Greek background is something that I carry with me on a daily basis as a medal of honor and something that I am really proud of. I would like to thank all those who believed in me and now continue to support me.”