MELBOURNE, 20 October, 2026: Speculation is mounting over who will be appointed Victoria’s first Multicultural Co-ordinator General, a role with an advertised salary of between $344,616 and $400,741 a year.
The appointee will lead Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria, the new body replacing the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Three key positions are being filled — the Co-ordinator General and two deputies — with additional advisory-group members also being recruited.
With the November state election approaching, the appointment has become politically charged. The Coalition opposes any appointment being made before the caretaker period begins on Melbourne Cup Day, arguing the decision should rest with the incoming government rather than the incumbent Labor administration.
However, talk within reliable circles suggests the Carroll Labor government could announce key appointments, including the top job, before the caretaker period begins on November 3.
A reliable source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a shortlist of three or four candidates had been finalised. It is unclear whether the appointee will come from a multicultural background.
Any decision to appoint a person without a multicultural background to lead the state’s peak multicultural body could prove damaging for Labor ahead of a closely contested election, particularly as support for One Nation grows.
The Coalition could also face difficulty explaining its position to multicultural communities if it accepted such an appointment.
A non-multicultural appointment would also sit uneasily with the George Lekakis report, which led to the establishment of the new multicultural body.
