Northern Metropolitan Region
Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (12:48): (1605) My constituency question is for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Minister, how will the Victorian government’s 2025–26 state budget allocation to the Migrant Workers Centre provide support to migrant workers in the Northern Metropolitan Region? Funding to the Migrant Workers Centre helps reinforce its commitment to safeguarding migrant workers’ rights across the state. This funding enables the centre to continue its vital work, including educating workers about their rights, recovering unpaid wages and supporting those facing exploitation or unsafe conditions. The Migrant Workers Centre’s initiatives, such as training community leaders to disseminate workplace rights information in multiple languages, directly empower local communities. Additionally, the centre’s role in developing the workplace justice visa provides a safety net for exploited workers, allowing them to seek justice without fear of losing their residency status. There are many things to talk about with the centre, but this sustained support ensures that migrant workers are better protected, informed and equipped to assert their rights, fostering a more equitable and just working environment for all.