Multicultural Affairs Minister Ros Spence said that the Victorian government will invest $69m across diverse communities.
“The funding will be across a range of areas from capital works and jobs, support for migrant workers and students, as well as significant boost to all the organisations that have really proven invaluable during this pandemic,” Ms Spence said.
She added that the “investment in the portfolio is aimed at the upgrade, or construction of new facilities across the state that will be used and enjoyed by multicultural communities, so the $21m package will allow communities to come together and preserve their culture and traditions.”
The $21 million infrastructure package provides “for a lot of infrastructure works and it will add to construction jobs” which she said is “something that is critically important at this time of economic recovery.”
Minister Spence announced, “a record $3 million multicultural media grant programme, one of the biggest packages for multicultural media as a state.”
She gave a “big shout out” to Neos Kosmos “for leading that work” and thanked “all multicultural media” for the work they did in drafting the proposal.
A new Independent Multicultural Media Association, (IMMA), is being developed by the sector to ensure that no government, state or federal, will ignore the vital role multicultural media plays in the general media ecology.
Ms Spence said, that the $3 million grant scheme is “a one-off grants programme” that responded to the proposal at the request of Premier Andrews.
“The grant program will help multicultural media immediately and is also designed to support new and emerging outlets.
“We want to continue to support vibrant multicultural press under the new scheme that will open in the next two weeks and provide up to $50,000 per outlet,” the Minister said.
Ms Spence added that the grant will support “operating costs, including salaries and even cover production costs, or new equipment.”
IMMA’s proposal called for one-off grants in three tiers of $10,000, $25,000 and $50,000 depending on the size of any outlet.
Ms Spence acknowledge that the pandemic and the extended second lockdown had a “major impact on multicultural media” which relies heavily on advertising from community small business as well as faith events, such as Eastern Orthodox Easter, Diwali, Ramadan and Hannukah.
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“We know that many of your organisations have been heavily impacted by the pandemic so this funding is designed to support you and to make sure that you’re supported into the future,” said the Minister.
Minister Spence announced, “a record $3million multicultural media grant programme, one of the biggest packages for multicultural media as a state.”
Ms Spence added that the funding “can be used for training and development costs that help you to manage the impacts of coronavirus and really set you up for recovery.”
“I really wanted to thank you all as members of the multicultural press for your work particularly during the pandemic.
“I think that this year has really highlighted how challenging messaging has been at times and how important it’s going to be to get the right information out there that speaks to communities.”
Other measures in the budget include $8 million for a Community Employment Connectors programme aimed at harnessing “community networks to engage with and advocate for multicultural communities on an employment pathway services.”
“There will be $1.2 million going to the Migrant Workers’ Centre to continue to drive down exploitation, particularly for migrant and student workers,” Ms Spence said.
Other funding measures by the Victorian government include support for refugees and asylum seekers, and new migrants “to help them find their feet in their new home.”
The Minister added that “another important initiative is to fight racial discrimination something that’s unfortunately been evident during the pandemic.”
“I’m pleased that we are investing $1.4million to develop a new antiracism strategy so that we can support every community and every Victorian.”
Neos Kosmos asked if the government will change its position on allowing multicultural media into mainstream media conferences, something that Neos Kosmos has been lobbying for since July when it became clear that many elderly Greek Australians were losing their lives due to COVID-19. By August, 150 Greek elderly had lost their lives and none of the requests by Neos Kosmos to take part in mainstream media conferences were successful.
Ms Spence said that she was “very aware of the lobbying by Neos Kosmos” and while she could not comment on what the government’s communications team had in mind, she “was taking that request on board and would pursue it further.”
Victoria’s multicultural media outlets are vital avenues through which our diverse communities receive in-language health directions & advice.
These organisations will receive further support to continue their work thanks to a $3M boost announced in today’s Victorian Budget. pic.twitter.com/r1h3D6Fbvm
— Ros Spence MP (@RosSpenceMP) November 24, 2020
