The Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) inquiry into the 2021-22 Budget Estimates has confirmed this week a savage cut in funding for Victoria’s multicultural communities.
The Andrews Labor Government confirmed the cut in multicultural affairs funding from $105.4 million in 2020/21 to $54.7 million in 2021/22.
This budget cut will inevitably result in numerous important programs and grants being significantly reduced or stopped altogether, which will have an obvious negative impact on many of our multicultural community organisations.
Additionally, for the first time in over thirty years, the Multicultural Affairs portfolio has been moved from the Department of Premier and Cabinet to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.
The Andrews Labor Government failed our culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities during COVID-19, and it is failing them again now with these budget cuts.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Neil Angus:
“Victoria’s multicultural community has been let down by Labor’s cuts in this budget.
“At a time when multicultural communities need support, Labor’s budget has slashed funding in this area.
“Our multicultural community is a vital part of our state and deserves to be supported, especially during these very challenging times.”
