Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, speaking at a multicultural media conference, highlighted the government’s commitment to multiculturalism and public safety.
Safety and support: A dual strategy
Gang violence, crimes against the person, and a rise in antisemitic incidents as well as intercommunal conflict over the past 17 months have tested the government’s resolve.
“Every Victorian regardless of their culture, background, faith or identity must feel safe,” said the Premier.
Allan said that more than $100 million has been allocated to “promote and strengthen our state’s diversity.” The funding includes $57 million to support young multicultural Victorians in building English skills, $20 million for cultural festivals, and a further $20 million for programs designed to help young people—particularly South Sudanese, Somali, and Afghan youth—find connection and purpose. This latter allocation, described as the “carrot,” complements the “stick” of the state’s new, tougher bail laws.
Machete ban and the nation’s toughest bail laws
The urgency of the issue was underscored by a violent brawl on Saturday, 25 May, at Northland Shopping Centre between youths wielding machetes. In response, the government announced an immediate ban on the sale of machetes, with a total ban to come into effect on 1 September.
Premier Allan defended the state’s tough bail laws, stating they are effective. “We’re seeing a change in the pattern of behaviour amongst offenders, in terms of actual numbers,” she said. “We needed to intervene to break that cycle, and that’s exactly what the new bail laws are designed to do.”
She added that her government is prioritising “community safety first and breaking the cycle of repeat offending—especially offences causing significant concern, such as home invasions, car thefts, and dangerous driving.”
Allan emphasised that part of the strategy includes “giving police additional tools and powers to divert those young people away” from criminal activity and “put them into diversion programs.” She also noted that “support programs” for young offenders “can [be] accessed in remand.”
Funding and community commitments
Neos Kosmos asked the Premier why the 2024–25 multicultural policies budget saw a 25 per cent decrease compared to the last three fiscal periods—the first time the figure has fallen below $50 million.
Premier Allan responded that the government had “invested more than $500 million in those programs and events and activities that are directly targeted to multicultural communities, and this year’s budget has more than 100 million in programs and supports.”
“Some of the adjustments have been made because we’ve delivered on a bunch of election commitments that we made from the 2022 election cycle,” she added. “So that gives you a sense that as we head into the next cycle, we know that we have more to do.”
The Premier then turned her focus to the review of multicultural services led by former Victorian Multicultural Commission chair, George Lekakis.
“That review and the work George [Lekakis] is doing will help build the new roadmap for our multicultural communities into the future, that will also give some guidance on additional support,” said Premier Allan.
“We are providing the target support that are touched on earlier. There’s the broader support around cost of living and frontline services. Then I look forward, as we head into another election cycle, to continue to work with multicultural communities on those issues and projects that are important in communities around the state.”
Multicultural communities are built on small business
Premier Allan also pointed to Victoria’s economic strength, stating the state’s economy is growing and creating more jobs, particularly through the business community.
“Victoria business investment is up 3.7 per cent over the past year and ahead of the rest of the nation,” said Premier Allan.
“We do have a strong economy in Victoria. We also know that we do need to make it even stronger, and we have a keen focus on our small businesses, which drive so much of the job creation.”
She noted that multicultural communities, especially new migrants, rely heavily on small business as a pathway to employment, security, and self-reliance.
“Small business is the heartbeat of our diverse state,” the Premier said.
The Premier highlighted a range of “targeted initiatives” to support small business, including “an overhaul in the number of regulations in Victoria.”
“We know that regulation, red tape, is a real burden for small businesses, so we know that we need to fix that.
“One example is reducing in half the number of permits you need to get a liquor license—to make it easier and quicker for our great hospitality industry to be able to serve their customers.”
She also underscored the establishment of a “dedicated Victoria Investment Fund of $150 million for businesses,” as well as the introduction of “a new business approvals incentive scheme” and additional funding opportunities for small businesses.
