Victorian Labor is calling on Victorians to oppose Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s cuts to multicultural programs and any changes to the Racial Discrimination Act.
Recently, the Abbott government announced it would cut $18 million from the Migrant Communities Employment Fund and the Building Multicultural Communities Program.
In 2013, the former Federal Labor Government committed $6.6 million over two years to establish the Migrant Communities Employment Fund. In December last year the Abbott government announced it would not proceed with the fund. Also, in 2013, the former federal government initiated the Building Multicultural Communities Program, committing $14 million in 2013-2014. The Abbott government announced cuts of $11.5 million to the program.
“Major funding cuts and changes to discrimination laws will hurt multicultural communities,” said the Leader of the Opposition in Victoria Daniel Andrews, responding to the latest developments.
Mr Andrews also went on to state that “every Victorian who is committed to diversity should oppose Tony Abbott’s plans”, in relation to changes to article 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act.
Multicultural communities in Victoria are concerned that proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act may expose Victorians to hate speech. Amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act were passed in September 1995 with bipartisan support. In 2012, Tony Abbott announced he would repeal Section 18C of the act. On 10 March 2014, Attorney General George Brandis said the government still intended to amend the act.