Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs Evan Mulholland has criticised the Allan Government’s handling of multicultural policy, saying long-standing community programs have suffered from years of under-funding.
Mulholland pointed to findings from the Victorian Multicultural Review, led by George Lekakis AO, which highlighted that grants for seniors, festivals and events, and community infrastructure have either been reduced or left unchanged for more than a decade.
“The maximum grant for community infrastructure projects has decreased from $1 million to $400,000, and for festivals and events, it has fallen from $100,000 to $50,000, despite significant increases in costs,” he said.
He argued that this “neglect has caused unnecessary anxiety for vulnerable seniors who rely on these programs for social support,” and warned that a failure to recognise faith as part of multiculturalism has deepened concerns, citing the government’s earlier push to abolish the Lord’s Prayer in Parliament without consulting faith groups.
Mulholland also questioned the Government’s decision to bring the Victorian Multicultural Commission into the Department of Premier and Cabinet in 2015, saying the new plan to create an independent statutory authority, Multicultural Victoria, was an admission that this move had been a mistake.
“The proposal to remove VMC Regional Advisory Councils model is also alarming, as it will weaken the ability of smaller communities to have their voices heard,” he said.
The Opposition says it fears Labor’s approach risks replacing a community-driven body with bureaucracy. Mulholland added that the Liberals and Nationals would take time to consult multicultural communities across the state before considering legislative change.
Former Multicultural Adviser Nitin Gupta welcomed the Allan Government’s initial response, describing it as “a step in the right direction” but also outlining gaps that he believes need to be addressed.
He noted that the review was conducted before the recent targeting of the Australian Indian community and called for “plans, strategies and additional funding” to address these developments. He also raised the absence of any mention of Indian, Hindu, or Sikh museums in the Premier’s statement on multicultural museums, urging both government and opposition to consider such projects given the size of Victoria’s Indian community.
Despite his concerns, Gupta praised both Premier Jacinta Allan and Opposition Leader Brad Battin for their support of the Australian Indian community in recent weeks. “In general I think that both Premier Allan and Opposition leader Mr. Brad Battin have done a wonderful job in supporting the Australian Indian community during the difficult last few weeks, and wants to specially thank them both for their valuable time and support,” his statement said.
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