Palaszczuk Government restores multicultural funding after LNP cuts

Published Sunday, 15 October, 2017 at 12:21 PM

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Grace Grace

The Palaszczuk Government has restored funding for multicultural affairs, following savage cuts of almost 40 per cent signed off by Tim Nicholls when the LNP was in office.

Multicultural Affairs Minister Grace Grace said the LNP should be judged on its record, not its rhetoric, when it came to multicultural affairs.

“Tim Nicholls might talk big about multicultural affairs, but it was never a priority for him when he was Treasurer in Campbell Newman’s government,” she said.

“In Tim Nicholls’ first budget he slashed funding for Multicultural Affairs Queensland (MAQ) by almost 40 per cent.

“MAQ was left with just $4.8 million in 2012-13, down from the $8 million budget it received from the previous Labor Government in 2011-12. 

“In the past three years the Palaszczuk Labor Government has repaired the damage caused by the LNP’s savage cuts by fully restoring Multicultural Affairs Queensland’s funding to $8.2 million in 2017-18.

“This includes $2.2 million for the Community Action for a Multicultural Society (CAMS) program which the LNP wanted to abolish altogether.

“Cuts to community organisations, cuts to multicultural events, less support for translator and interpreter services – that’s the LNP’s multicultural affairs legacy.

“These services are crucial for thousands of Queenslanders from multicultural backgrounds, which is why we’ve restored funding to its previous level.

“The Palaszczuk Government will continue to deliver improved services for all Queenslanders, including those from multicultural backgrounds.”

Media contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548