We are one Victoria and we must never be divided. That's the message running throughout Victoria's landmark Multicultural Review, released by Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt today.
The Victorian Multicultural Review was headed by George Lekakis AO alongside an expert advisory group. It heard from more than 640 Victorians at 57 consultation sessions, and more than 150 peak bodies and community groups.
As part of its initial response to the review, the Allan Labor Government is implementing strong, immediate actions to support Victoria's multicultural sector and uplift its communities as champions of unity and cohesion:
- A new statutory body - Multicultural Victoria - will be established, and a new Multicultural Coordinator General will be appointed to lead it. They will be supported by two Deputies, with one from regional Victoria, plus a five-member advisory council of commissioners
- This new organisation will combine the engagement role of the Victorian Multicultural Commission with the policy role of the Department. It will have new responsibilities including developing safety plans for communities affected by serious and distressing events
- The Premier will lead a new whole-of-government multicultural strategy to elevate community needs across all portfolios, and will require multicultural needs to be considered in all Cabinet decision-making
- Organisations applying for multicultural grants will be empowered to pilot a Social Cohesion Commitment, before it is rolled out in standard funding agreements across all Government portfolios
- A new $5 million fund will strengthen the capacity and sustainability of multicultural organisations to deliver for their communities and equip them to be leaders in resolving conflict and division.
In line with recommendations made in the Review, and a recommendation from the Anti-Hate Taskforce, an additional investment of $925,000 will support more people including children to visit Victoria's multicultural museums, which are currently seeing reduced visitation.
This investment will mean our kids get to know and understand the multicultural and multifaith stories at the heart of our state, including at the Holocaust Museum, the Islamic Museum, the Jewish Museum, the Chinese Museum, the new Vietnamese Museum, the Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo, and more.
Both the full release of this Review's report and our immediate actions are, above all, the Government's chance to rebuild trust, re-engage with communities, and reset the multicultural agenda with a shared vision of a united Victoria right when we need it most.
The Government's initial response to the Lekakis Review can be found at: www.vic.gov.au/victorias-multicultural-review.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"We are one Victoria and we'll never be divided. Multiculturalism isn't the problem - it is the solution."
"This is our vision for a united Victoria - strong anti-hate laws, strong values, and a strong society, with multicultural organisations as our stable partners and multicultural people as our champions of cohesion."
"Multicultural museum visitation has sadly fallen at such a critical moment in time. We'll help more Victorians learn the lessons of the Holocaust and hear the stories of Islam, Judaism and more."
As stated by Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt
"The Review is just one part of addressing social cohesion - but it's the most important part of all, because a vision for a united Victoria starts by listening to multicultural communities and empowering them to lead."
"Multicultural Victoria will strengthen leadership of the sector and reset the agenda after such a challenging five years, and our new capacity grants will make organisations stronger so they can be a part of the change."
