Labor MLC Shaoquett Moselmane has blasted the NSW government scheme for copying his own Multicultural Media Awards venture.
The scheme, proposed by Premier Barry O’Farrell and Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello, is late coming, says Mr Moselmane, when he didn’t receive any government funding for the awards in 2012.
“This shows that Minister Dominello and the Premier don’t really care about multicultural communities – but when somebody else comes up with a good idea, they are more than happy to take the credit for themselves,” Mr Moselmane said.
“The Premier and the Minister only chose to recognise multicultural media in this way after I placed it on the agenda earlier this year.
“When launching the first Multicultural Media Awards in September 2012, I did so with my own personal funds and sponsorship sought from the community. I had no Government support or assistance, but still pressed ahead because I saw a need for this recognition in the community.”
This year the Premier’s awards are conducted by the Community Relations Commission of NSW, and feature the same categories as Moselmane’s awards.
Minister Dominello said in a statement, “we want to give all kinds of work, in all media, in all languages, a chance to shine.”
Mr Moselmane said the 2012 Multicultural Media Awards constantly asked for the participation of the ministers, but was never supported.
“The Premier and the Minister were invited to take an active role in the first awards initiative, but my requests fell on deaf ears. They did not even attend the presentation night,” he said.
The Multicultural Media Awards had the participation of well over 200 multicultural and indigenous journalists from across Australia.