IMMA backs the Victorian Multicultural Review as a ‘watershed moment’

By Michael Mystakidis

Independent Multicultural Media Australia (IMMA) has welcomed the findings of the Victorian Multicultural Review and its report, Rebuilding Trust – For a Multicultural Victoria.

The report represents a potential watershed in Victoria’s multicultural policy, particularly if recommendations on independent multicultural media are enacted.

Rebuilding Trust – For a Multicultural Victoria recognises that support for independent multicultural media is essential in building social cohesion and civic participation across the state.

The review, led by George Lekakis AO with Dr Hass Dellal AO, Miriam Suss AOM, Carmel Guerra OAM, and Mark Duckworth PSM, comes at a crucial moment when extremist views are straining local communities.

Independent multicultural media, as a form of essential public interest journalism, has operated too long with minimal sustained support. IMMA’s members play a critical role in ensuring communities have rightful access to news, emergency updates, and civic information—both in-language and in English—delivered across generations in culturally relevant ways.

We commend the Advisory Group for calling for a renewed multicultural policy framework grounded in access, equity, and inclusion, and for acknowledging the importance of our media ecology in countering misinformation while providing forums for respectful debate.

IMMA supports the following key recommendations:

1. Government advertising spend must be reviewed with greater transparency and equitably allocated. Caps should be placed on digital tech giants to ensure independent multicultural media is properly included in campaigns.
2. A dedicated Digital Transformation and Sustainability Fund is needed to strengthen the digital capacity, skills, and income pathways of multicultural media outlets, many of which operate with small but highly committed teams.
3. A whole-of-government communication strategy should ensure multicultural media is fully integrated into emergency messaging, health communication, and civic engagement.
4. The government should formalise a community engagement advisory role for multicultural media and IMMA, alongside not-for-profit organisations.

IMMA and its members stand ready to work with the Victorian Government to implement these recommendations. With appropriate and sustained support, independent multicultural media can continue to play a central role in building an inclusive, informed, and connected Victoria.

We thank George Lekakis and the Advisory Group for recognising the importance of our media ecology and urge the government to act decisively so these recommendations are translated into meaningful policy and funding commitments.