The Victorian opposition has slammed the Andrews government for what it calls a failure ‘to appoint several Victorian Multicultural Affairs (VMC) Commissioners’ and maintain the organisations continuing existence.
In a media release, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs Inga Peulich said the government’s failures to reappoint six commissioners whose terms expired in August ‘leaves the Commission weakened’ at a time when it should be working closely with multicultural communities.
The Shadow Minister claims the Andrews government has also failed to administer key decisions which has left multicultural affairs in a state of limbo.
“Victorians now have a depleted VMC unable to fulfil our multicultural communities’ expectations or provide the Minister with advice on important multicultural issues,” Peulich said in the statement.
Accordingly, programs attributed to social cohesion and the prevention of violent extremism have not been addressed.
“It is clear that Daniel Andrews, rocked by internal scandals, places its political interests first and the needs of our multicultural communities last.”
“The Multicultural Affairs portfolio under Daniel Andrews is limping rather than providing leadership on issues of critical importance to the community.”
The government has also failed to appoint or announce personnel to the Multicultural Business Ministerial Council, the statement read.
