Minister Fails to Rule Out Cuts to Victoria’s Multicultural Communities

Melbourne, February 28, 2025 – The future of multicultural funding in Victoria remains uncertain after the state’s Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Ingrid Stitt, refused to rule out cuts to key multicultural organizations, despite mounting concerns over the state’s budget deficit.

In a tense exchange in Parliament this week, Minister Stitt was asked by the Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Evan Mulholland, to confirm that government funding for the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) and the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV) would not face cuts as part of a broader review of the state’s budget.

The review, announced last week by Treasurer Jaclyn Symes, is set to lead to significant job cuts in the public service, with estimates ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 positions being slashed. While capital expenditure is exempt from the review, organizations such as the VMC and ECCV, which provide vital services to Victoria’s multicultural communities, are not.

When asked by Mulholland whether funding for these key bodies would be safeguarded, Minister Stitt declined to give a firm commitment, stating that she would "not pre-empt" any forthcoming updates on the state’s multicultural policies and institutions.

The refusal to confirm or deny cuts is raising alarms within Victoria’s multicultural communities, who fear that the Labor government may use the financial pressures facing the state to justify slashing support for the services they rely on.

“This refusal to guarantee funding for vital multicultural organizations is sending shockwaves through our communities,” Mulholland said following the exchange. “The Minister’s failure to back the Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria shows a lack of commitment to these groups and their crucial role in our state’s social fabric.”

He continued, “After ten years of Labor government, Victoria's state budget is in the worst shape in living memory. Now, with talks of a ‘razor gang’ targeting essential services, it’s clear that multicultural communities may bear the brunt of this financial reckoning.”

The Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria are key pillars for supporting and advocating for the state’s diverse communities. The VMC, for instance, advises the government on policies affecting multicultural communities and helps facilitate important programs and services across the state. The ECCV serves as an umbrella body for a range of ethnic groups, working to promote their rights and welfare.

In response to the ongoing concerns, the Minister for Multicultural Affairs said that she could not speak to specific funding decisions at this stage but emphasized the government's ongoing commitment to supporting Victoria's multicultural communities.

However, the lack of clarity on the government’s intentions has sparked fears that the cuts will disproportionately impact these communities, who are already facing challenges in the wake of the pandemic and rising cost of living.

“The Minister’s non-committal response only heightens our concerns,” said a spokesperson for the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria. “Any reduction in funding for multicultural services will have a devastating impact on the ability of our communities to access vital resources and representation.”

As the budget review process unfolds, multicultural organizations are bracing for potential cuts, hoping for a commitment from the state government to preserve funding for their critical work.

The government is expected to provide further updates in the coming weeks, but for now, the future of Victoria’s multicultural sector remains uncertain.