Thursday, 30 November 2023

Ministers statements: Victorian Multicultural Commission

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:06): Recently I had the pleasure of joining the Victorian Multicultural Commission and members of our multicultural and multifaith communities to mark the 40th ‍anniversary of the VMC’s establishment. Since its coming together in 1983 under the Cain Labor government following the passage of the inaugural Ethnic Affairs Commission Act 1982, the VMC has acted as a critical leader and an active voice for the community.

Forming close links between multicultural and multifaith communities and the Victorian government, the VMC has advocated for the diverse communities that call our state home. It has played a vital role in promoting and celebrating cultural diversity within Victoria, providing the missing piece of the policy puzzle, forging connections and giving voice and visibility to communities that might be otherwise marginalised in policy debates and development. Victoria is one of the most culturally diverse societies in the world, with almost half of Victorians either born overseas or having a parent who was born overseas. The Allan Labor government believes that Victoria’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths. We are committed to working to ensure positive and equitable outcomes for all Victorians – work that remains ongoing.

As we mark this important milestone I thank the chairperson Viv Nguyen, commissioners and staff at the VMC for bringing our community closer together over the past four decades, working to create a stronger sense of belonging for all and contributing to a more inclusive and fairer Victoria.