Victorian Premier unveils new multicultural statutory body and $5 million fund

Victoria has launched its most significant multicultural policy shake-up in decades, with Premier Jacinta Allan declaring that “we are one Victoria and we must never be divided.”

The Victorian Multicultural Review, led by George Lekakis AO and an expert advisory group, consulted more than 640 Victorians across 57 sessions, alongside over 150 peak bodies and community organisations.

Its findings, released on Thursday by the Premier and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt, have set the stage for sweeping reforms designed to strengthen social cohesion and rebuild trust with diverse communities.

As part of its immediate response, the Allan Labor Government has announced:

• The establishment of Multicultural Victoria, a new statutory body headed by a Multicultural Coordinator General, supported by two Deputies (including one from regional Victoria) and a five-member advisory council of commissioners.
• A whole-of-government multicultural strategy, led by the Premier, ensuring multicultural needs are embedded in Cabinet decision-making.
• A pilot Social Cohesion Commitment for organisations applying for multicultural grants, to be later rolled out across all Government funding agreements.
• A $5 million fund to strengthen the capacity of multicultural organisations, equipping them to resolve conflict and lead in times of division.
• An additional $925,000 investment to increase school and community visits to Victoria’s multicultural museums, including the Holocaust Museum, Islamic Museum, Jewish Museum, Chinese Museum, Vietnamese Museum, and Bendigo’s Golden Dragon Museum.

The Government stressed that these actions are not only about reforming governance but also about revitalising Victoria’s multicultural identity at a critical time.

Premier Allan said the changes were about reaffirming unity: “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.”

She added that supporting multicultural museums was vital in an era of declining visitation: “We’ll help more Victorians learn the lessons of the Holocaust and hear the stories of Islam, Judaism and more.”

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt emphasised the role of communities in driving the vision forward: “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.”

Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission Bill Papastergiadis OAM welcomed the reforms, praising both the Review and the Government’s response.

“I applaud Lekakis’ report and the response of the Premier to reinvigorate the Authority and to also strengthen the relationship between our State and our diverse multicultural communities,” Mr Papastergiadis said.

“The renewed Authority now has significant commitments from Government and its departments on funding and engagement. These commitments will enable Victoria to lead the global conversation on cohesion and cooperation. Our way of life needs protecting and these reforms will ensure that we continue to strengthen the bonds that tie us.”

The Government’s full response to the Lekakis Review can be found at: www.vic.gov.au/victorias-multicultural-review.