State Budget delivers record funding for Multicultural Affairs

The Palaszczuk Government will deliver record funding of $15.5 million for Multicultural Affairs through the 2018-19 State Budget.

Multicultural Affairs Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the record investment delivered on a key election commitment to make Queensland a more inclusive place.

“We promised to make Queensland a more inclusive place, and we’re backing that pledge with a record budget for Multicultural Affairs,” he said.

“This includes double the funding for multicultural events and projects through the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland Grants Program, from $1 million to $2 million each year.

“This extra $3 million over the next three years will bring the total investment in the CMQ grants program to $6 million over the next three years.  

“These additional funds will support even more events that bring Queenslanders together from all backgrounds, while funding important projects in communities throughout the State.

“The State Budget also locks in $4.5 million to extend the Community Action for a Multicultural Society program for a further two years from 2018-19 .

“This was a program the LNP wanted to completely abolish, as the Newman Government set about decimating funding for Multicultural Affairs.

“Multicultural Affairs Queensland had its budget cut to the bone with just $4.8 million in 2012-13 when the LNP was in power - down from the $8 million budget it received from the previous Labor Government in 2011-12. 

“We’ve not only restored this funding, we’re now increasing it.

“We’ll continue to invest in Multicultural Affairs to make Queensland an even more welcoming and inclusive place, as we promised.”

Media contact: Martin Philip 0427 194 548