Victoria’s Labor government has announced it will start hiring for a new statutory body called Multicultural Victoria, and handed out $6 million to immigrant groups to upgrade security at community facilities.
Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria Ingrid Stitt said last week applications would soon open for key positions in Multicultural Victoria, which will be established later this year, and is intended to increase the influence of “multicultural and multifaith communities”.
The entity, which is subject to the passage of legislation, will combine the functions of the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Multicultural Affairs, with additional responsibilities including developing safety plans for communities affected by “serious and distressing events”.
The positions will include a Coordinator General to lead Multicultural Victoria, two Deputy Coordinator Generals (including one from regional Victoria), and members of a Multicultural Community Advisory Group.
Two days later Premier Jacinta Allan’s office revealed that 57 multicultural organisations will share almost $6 million through the 2025–26 Multicultural Infrastructure and Security Program (MISP).
The MISP funding will be used to upgrade, maintain and secure communal gathering spaces, including security upgrades such as lighting, surveillance systems and other safety measures.
The funded projects will support about 24 ethnicities and 14 faiths, with 15 projects based in regional and rural areas and 42 supporting metropolitan communities, and the government said the funding was necessary due to the rise in popularity of Pauline Hanson.
“We know the harm a One Nation Liberal coalition will cause. They’ve gone after multicultural communities before and we know they’ll do it again,” Ms Allan’s office said.
Hindu temple Kali Mata Mandir is set to receive over $80,000 to “upgrade their security camera system and lighting at their temple”, and the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East will receive over $380,000 for upgrades including “exterior security lighting, security camera system and inground bollards”.
“Labor will always support a multicultural Victoria. Multiculturalism is one of Victoria’s greatest strengths,” Ms Stitt said while announcing the hiring spree.
“We are backing Victoria’s multicultural and multifaith communities – ensuring their voices are represented and heard.”
Multicultural Victoria “will improve how government listens and connects directly with communities on the ground, ensuring we are better equipped to support and empower them” and will “support and uplift multicultural and multifaith communities as champions of unity and cohesion”, Ms Allan’s office said.
The opening of the applications coincided with the end of Vivienne Nguyen’s term as Victorian Multicultural Commission Chairperson.
“It has been a privilege serving the multicultural and faith communities and supporting them in their advocacy efforts with curiosity, sincerity and integrity,” she said,
Appointed in 2019, Ms Nguyen convened the Multifaith Advisory Group and served on Victoria’s Anti-Racism Taskforce.
The taskforce included representatives from the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria, and members from a range of cultural and faith backgrounds, including Aboriginal, Chinese, Pakistani, Muslim, Jewish, Indian and Sudanese communities.
The announcements come just a week after the Victorian government committed $5 million in funding for almost 200 multicultural organisations supporting 46 ethnic communities and 15 “faith groups”
Header image: Ms Allan hugs a Muslim woman at a Ramadan event in March (Facebook).
