Victoria’s multicultural communities have cautiously welcomed the state government’s plan to revamp multicultural arrangements and representation in the state. 

The revamp focuses heavily on promoting social cohesion and resolving conflict between communities. 

Cross cultural and interfaith relations have faltered in Victoria, and across Australia, since the start of the conflict in Gaza and because of a growing number of conflicts across the globe. 

Following a review of multiculturalism in Victoria, the state government will establish a new statutory body ‘Multicultural Victoria’ and appoint a new Multicultural Coordinator General 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 of Premier and Cabinet. It will have new responsibilities including developing safety plans for communities affected by serious and distressing events. 

Premier Jacinta Allen 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 have to comply with a pilot ‘Social Cohesion Commitment’; an idea that is planned to be rolled out in standard funding agreements across all Government portfolios. 

Also, 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. 

Deputy Chair of the Refugee Communities Association of Australia Dalal Samaan welcomed the changes. 

“RCAA welcomes the Victorian Government’s adoption of the Lekakis Review recommendations,’ Ms Samaan said. 

“We support full implementation that prioritises grassroots and smaller community groups who are new to Australia. 

“This timely change from the Victorian Multicultural Commission to Multicultural Victoria reflects that over half of Victorians are connected to multicultural communities, and we trust and thank the Premier for bringing Multicultural Victoria under her leadership,” she said. 

Afghan community leader Ali Batoor also welcomed the move. 

“It is a good move as long as the recommendations are implemented in full. We hope that happens and a stronger multicultural Victoria emerges,” Batoor said. 

“Putting multiculturalism under the Premier’s leadership is also a good move. Let us hope all this happens,” he said.

Syrian community leader Norma Medawar said her community looked forward to engaging with an organisation that is close to the Premier. 

“If the Multicultural Commission is established properly and with proper funding, it will be good for multicultural communities,” Ms Medawar said. 

“It has the potential to bring communities together and to position communities closer to where decisions are made, so it will hopefully give us more say over programs and policies that affect us,” said Ms medawar, who leads the Zenobia community group. 

African community leader Joselyne Kanyetta said the move might give more marginalised communities more a of say in multicultural policy. 

“Some struggle to have voice in policies and programs that affect the. So, we hope this will give more communities access to decision making,” she said.  

Premier Jacinta Allen said: “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 said. 

“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,” Premier Allen said. 

In keeping with a with recommendation in the Review, and a recommendation from the Anti-Hate Taskforce, an extra $925,000 will support more people including children to visit Victoria’s multicultural museums, which are currently seeing reduced visitation. 

The museums include the Holocaust Museum, the Islamic Museum, the Jewish Museum, the Chinese Museum, the new Vietnamese Museum, the Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo, and others. 

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt said: “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.”