Brad Battin says he’s not here to impose an identity. He wants to listen.
After years in which the Victorian Liberal Party struggled to make headway in the multicultural suburbs of Melbourne, especially in the fast-growing west and southeast, Battin is promising a reset—one grounded in local engagement, practical support, and a clear recognition that the communities shaping Victoria’s future don’t want tokenism. They want partnership.
“We’re a different party now,” he says. “We know we don’t have all the answers, so we’re opening the door to communities to shape solutions with us.”
It’s not just political strategy. Battin—who has visited India three times—speaks admiringly of the values he sees in Victoria’s Indian diaspora: education, aspiration, and family strength. “People from India want what everyone else does—good education, fair health access, a future for their kids. But we need to help them navigate our systems better. You can’t just say ‘go to hospital.’”
He’s also critical of recent cuts in the state’s multicultural budget. The Allan Government’s decision to drop spending from $60.5 million to $48.2 million has, according to Battin, sent the wrong signal at the wrong time. “We’re spending $1.2 million an hour just on interest. That’s 10% of Victoria’s income gone every year. The waste on over-budget projects is staggering. That money should be going into community groups, schools, and hospitals.”
Among his more concrete proposals: backing Indian language education in mainstream schools. “We haven’t finalised the details, but I’m clear: knowing more than one language is a huge asset. Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Malayalam—these shouldn’t just be Saturday options. Families should have the choice.”
He wants a multicultural hub in the southeast—a shared space where Indian, Sri Lankan and other diaspora communities can organise, meet, and run services. “We hear that again and again. These communities want space. They’re doing the heavy lifting in terms of cohesion. They need government to back them.”
Battin’s stance is also cultural. “I’m a dad who wants the right to raise my kids with the values I choose,” he says. “That resonates with so many migrant families I speak to. Whether it’s religion or education, government shouldn’t be in the business of telling families what to believe.”
As to the future of representation, Battin is clear: there’s no parachuting. “We don’t handpick candidates. But I’m confident there’ll be strong multicultural representation in winnable seats. We’ve had those conversations, and they’re ongoing.”
It’s not a glossy multicultural policy. There are no slogans. But it’s measured, direct—and possibly just enough to win back ground the party has been steadily losing.
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