Australian leaders support the Nineveh Plains initiative at the Canberra Policy Summit

The Assyrian National Council – Australia (ANCA), proudly hosted the Policy Summit on the Future of the Nineveh Plains at Parliament House, Canberra, on Assyria Day, Wednesday, 1 July 2026. The Summit was honoured by the attendance of the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, who officially opened the event, together with Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, who hosted the Summit at Parliament House. One of the principal outcomes of the Summit was the presentation of the Canberra Declaration on the Future and Protection of the Nineveh Plains. President of the ANC, Mr Hermiz Shahen spoke to SBS Assyrian about the significance of this summit.