Victoria has passed legislation to establish a new body intended to give multicultural and multifaith communities a stronger voice in government decision-making.
The Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria legislation will create an independent entity that will advise government departments and agencies, including health and emergency services, on policies and programmes affecting diverse communities.
The new body is due to begin operating on 1 October.
The Victorian Government says the changes are intended to strengthen community participation, improve accountability and ensure the experiences of multicultural and multifaith Victorians are considered across government.
The legislation follows Victoria’s Multicultural Review, which recommended changes to the way the state government engages with culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The government had previously proposed establishing a new body that would bring together community engagement, policy development and grants functions currently spread across the Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Under the new arrangements, the organisation will be led by a Coordinator General and two deputies. The appointments are intended to be made through an independent process, with the office holders expected to represent and advocate for communities impartially.
The body will also have reporting responsibilities designed to track multicultural outcomes across government. Its role will include advising agencies on services and policies and supporting greater community participation in government decision-making.
Victoria is home to people from more than 300 ancestries, with more than 290 languages spoken across the state and more than 200 faiths represented, according to the Victorian Government.
This legislation sends a clear message: multiculturalism is one of Victoria’s greatest strengths: Mr Edbrooke
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Paul Edbrooke said the legislation was intended to reinforce Victoria’s multicultural character and give communities a stronger role in government.
“This legislation sends a clear message: multiculturalism is one of Victoria’s greatest strengths,” Mr Edbrooke said.
“Every Victorian should feel safe, valued and free to express their culture, heritage and faith.”
Mr Edbrooke said the new body would strengthen engagement between government and multicultural and multifaith communities.
The reforms have followed parliamentary debate over how the new body should operate and how its independence should be maintained. The Legislative Council passed the related legislation earlier this month, with changes requiring consideration through the parliamentary process.
The government’s earlier proposal also included a Multicultural Community Advisory Group, with members representing different communities, faiths, occupations and regions. One position was proposed for a youth representative, while one of the deputy coordinator roles was to be filled by someone from regional Victoria.
The new structure is intended to give the government a central mechanism for considering multicultural and multifaith issues across different portfolios, rather than leaving engagement primarily within the multicultural affairs portfolio.
The effectiveness of the reform will ultimately depend on how the new body uses its advisory and reporting powers, and how government departments respond to its recommendations once it begins operating.
The legislation is scheduled to take effect from 1 October, when the new organisation is expected to take over relevant functions and programmes.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
