Taxpayers Fund $5.9M Plan Most Were Never Asked About

The Victorian Government’s flagship multicultural policy overhaul is drawing scrutiny following revelations that just over 640 individuals were consulted in the development of a sweeping strategy intended to reflect the views of the entire state.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt unveiled the Victorian Multicultural Review Final Report this week, describing it as a blueprint for unity, inclusion and reform. The review was led by George Lekakis AO and supported by an expert advisory group.

According to the report, the review process included 57 consultation sessions across metropolitan and regional areas, engaging 644 individuals. An additional 153 written submissions were received from community organisations, peak bodies and faith-based groups.

Victoria’s total population is estimated at more than 6.7 million, raising questions about the representativeness and reach of the consultation phase, particularly given the scale of structural reform and public investment now proposed.

Premier Allan said the review and its immediate outcomes are 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. She added that we are One Victoria and we must never be divided.

Significant Structural Reforms Announced

As part of its initial response to the review, the Allan Government confirmed a number of structural changes and funding commitments, including:

• Establishing a new statutory authority, Multicultural Victoria, which will assume the combined responsibilities of the Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Department’s policy unit. The new body will be led by a Multicultural Coordinator General, supported by two deputies (including one from regional Victoria), and a five-member commissioners’ advisory council.

• Introducing a whole-of-government multicultural strategy, to be led by the Premier, which will require all Cabinet decision-making to consider multicultural needs.

• Empowering organisations applying for multicultural grants to pilot a Social Cohesion Commitment, which will later be rolled out across standard funding agreements in all Government portfolios.

• Investing $5 million to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of multicultural organisations, enabling them to deliver for their communities and equip them to be leaders in resolving conflict and division.

In addition, an allocation of $925,000 will be used to support increased school visitation to Victoria’s multicultural museums. The Government stated that 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.

These reforms are framed as urgent and proactive responses to distressing events and perceived fractures in community cohesion.

No Consolidated Costing for Full Implementation

While some funding allocations have been specified—namely the $5 million organisational fund and the $925,000 museum support initiative—the broader recommendations outlined in the review suggest significant longer-term costs across multiple portfolios.

This includes the proposed establishment of a Victorian Anti-Racism Centre, reforms to education and justice systems, targeted employment initiatives for CALD communities, and increased data collection to track discrimination, among others.

However, neither the report nor the Government’s initial response provides a consolidated estimate for the total cost of implementing all 41 recommendations and associated actions. The absence of forward estimates has prompted concern from some quarters about the transparency of the fiscal impact.

Consultation Scope Draws Questions of Representativeness

While the review is being described as comprehensive, the relatively limited scale of public engagement has raised questions about how representative the process was. With 644 individuals consulted directly—less than 0.01 per cent of the population—the review relied heavily on pre-existing networks and organisational submissions.

According to the report, the review engaged over 640 Victorians at 57 consultation sessions and received more than 150 written submissions from peak bodies and community groups. Participants were primarily reached through sector partnerships, formal associations, and targeted outreach.

Some community stakeholders have questioned whether the process allowed for meaningful grassroots engagement across diverse and less organised multicultural communities, particularly in outer suburban and rural areas.

Balancing Social Cohesion With Democratic Legitimacy

The Government has positioned the reforms as a necessary reset for multicultural policy in Victoria. According to the Premier, the release of the report and its immediate actions are intended to elevate community needs across all portfolios and ensure multicultural needs are considered in all Cabinet decision-making.

However, political observers and civil society representatives have raised concerns about whether the process had sufficient breadth and legitimacy to justify such sweeping institutional change. While there is broad agreement on the importance of social cohesion and anti-racism initiatives, the consultation methods and the absence of a detailed cost framework are now emerging as key points of contention.

As the state prepares to implement the reforms, the challenge will be ensuring that measures aimed at strengthening unity do not inadvertently foster division by excluding large segments of the population from genuine consultation. The Victorian Government will need to demonstrate that its commitment to inclusion extends not just to outcomes, but to the processes by which they are achieved.