The Allan Government has come under attack from the Victorian Opposition after advertising senior executive positions for the proposed Multicultural Victoria body before legislation creating the organisation has been introduced to Parliament.
Applications opened this week for a Multicultural Coordinator-General, Deputy Coordinator-General and advisory positions as part of the government’s plan to establish Multicultural Victoria, a new body that would bring together community engagement, policy and program delivery for multicultural and multifaith communities.
The recruitment follows recommendations made in Victoria’s Multicultural Review. The government has said the new body will strengthen the way it engages with multicultural communities and has invited applications for the leadership roles, with recruitment closing on 9 August.
But Shadow Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Affairs Evan Mulholland said advertising the positions before Parliament had considered the legislation raised questions about the process.
Mr Mulholland said the government had advertised a Multicultural Coordinator-General role with a salary package of up to $400,741 and part-time Deputy Coordinator-General positions worth up to $268,488 before the legislation establishing the body had even been introduced.
“The Allan Labor Government’s arrogance is off the charts,” Mr Mulholland said.
“They haven’t introduced the bill, they haven’t briefed the Opposition or the crossbench; no debate, not even a discussion, but they’re already advertising a four-year, $400,000-a-year job as if Parliament’s approval is a mere formality.”
He said the Liberals and Nationals supported stronger multicultural engagement but argued the recruitment should be paused until Parliament had considered the legislation.
Mr Mulholland said that if appointments were made before the November state election, “an incoming Wilson government reserves every right to scrap the contract.”
The Opposition has called on the Allan Government to halt the recruitment process, introduce the legislation establishing Multicultural Victoria, brief the Opposition and crossbench, and leave permanent appointments until after the election.
The government announced earlier this week that Multicultural Victoria would bring together community engagement, policy development and program delivery under one organisation, describing it as a key recommendation of the state’s Multicultural Review. It has begun recruiting a Coordinator-General to provide strategic leadership and advice to the Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria, alongside deputy and regional leadership positions and a Multicultural Community Advisory Group.
The legislation required to formally establish the body has yet to be introduced into Parliament.
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