The Victorian Opposition has referred allegations concerning the organisation of several taxpayer-funded multicultural events to the Victorian Public Sector Commission, raising questions about the role of the Premier’s Private Office and the allocation of invitations.
The Liberals and Nationals said they had asked the Commission to examine whether there had been a potential breach of the Victorian Public Sector Commission Code of Conduct. The referral relates to the involvement of the Premier’s Private Office in planning a number of government-backed multicultural gatherings.
Shadow Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Affairs Evan Mulholland said the issue centred on the way invitations and speaking roles had been distributed at several recent events.
“Restricting access to these events, which cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, to Labor MPs and their associates in an election year raises serious concerns,” Mr Mullholand said.
“If the Premier wants to run Labor Party events in an election year, the Labor Party should pay for them.”
Among the examples cited by the Opposition is the Premier’s Multicultural Gala Dinner. According to the figures provided by the Opposition, ticket allocations for Labor MPs, their staff and their guests increased from 67 to 190 places out of 1,200 seats after the Premier’s Private Office became involved in organising the event. One table was allocated to the Opposition. The Premier, the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and a federal Labor minister addressed the gathering. The event cost $438,000.
Another event raised by the Opposition was the Premier’s Diwali State Reception. Dozens of Labor MPs attended the reception, while one Opposition MP was present. The Premier and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs spoke at the event, with no speaking opportunity provided to Opposition representatives. The reception cost $381,000.
The Opposition also pointed to a Shrove Tuesday event described as being for “diverse Christian communities”, which cost $11,400. Twenty-two Labor MPs attended, according to the Opposition, while invitations were not extended to Opposition MPs.
Questions have also been raised about the Premier’s Lunar New Year gathering. The Opposition said Victoria’s only Vietnamese MP, Trung Luu, was not invited to attend with the Vietnamese community, while the Opposition Leader attended but was not permitted to deliver a speech.
Mr Mulholland said he had written to Premier Jacinta Allan calling on the government to change the approach to such gatherings and ensure they remain open to all elected representatives.
The Opposition said that after the letter was sent, the Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and the leader of the Greens received single invitations to a government-funded Iftar dinner at short notice. They did not receive an opportunity to speak at the event, while Labor MPs attended in larger numbers.
Mr Mulholland said the timing of the invitations had added to his concerns about how the events were organised.
The Victorian Government has previously said multicultural celebrations are intended to recognise and support the state’s diverse communities and are organised as part of broader engagement with cultural and faith groups across Victoria.
Victoria funds a range of multicultural and community events each year through government programs aimed at promoting participation and cultural recognition among the state’s communities.
The Victorian Public Sector Commission oversees standards of conduct for public sector employees and may assess whether any processes connected to government events comply with the relevant code.
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