A New Era Begins: radical Parliament Overhaul Set to Completely Change How Victoria Handles Migrant Affairs!
New Bill Forces Public Sector Into Mandatory Translation Services Contract!
Radical Parliament Overhaul Set to Completely Change How Victoria Handles Migrant Affairs!
MELBOURNE, July 28, 2026: — The focus today was on the leadership change where Premier Jacinta Allan was replaced by Ben Carroll, who became the state’s 50th premier alongside deputy premier Gabrielle Williams. On the sideline an era ended in Victoria where the bill to dissolve the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) and replace it with ‘Multicultural Victoria’ was introduced, a major legislative overhaul to its multicultural sector, tabling the Multicultural Victoria Amendment Bill 2026 in Parliament.
The bill, introduced by The Hon. Sonya Kilkenny, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Violence Reduction, and Minister for Finance with James Newbury on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, marks the biggest restructure of the state’s multicultural affairs in decades. It will dissolve the long-standing Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) and replace it with a new, streamlined statutory body called Multicultural Victoria.
The reform delivers on key recommendations from Victoria’s recent Multicultural Review, which was spearheaded by George Lekakis AO. According to government sources, the structural shift aims to modernise how the state engages with its diverse migrant and refugee communities, providing a “reset” for grassroots community advocacy.
A New Leadership Model
Under the proposed legislation, Multicultural Victoria will be led by a newly created Multicultural Coordinator General.
To ensure regional and rural migrant communities are not left behind, the structure includes two Deputy Coordinators—one of whom will be specifically dedicated to regional Victoria. A diverse advisory group will also be established to guide the body’s strategic direction.
In anticipation of the legislation passing, the government has already opened expressions of interest for these top leadership and advisory roles.
Applications are currently being accepted and are scheduled to close on Sunday, 9 August 2026.
Mandated Language Services
Beyond administrative restructuring, the bill introduces strict new protocols for public sector communication.
Designated government and public sector entities will now be legally mandated to use VITS LanguageLoop for their interpreting and translation services. This move is designed to standardise the quality of non-English information across state services and ensure equitable access to vital government resources.
The bill is expected to face debate in the legislative assembly over the coming weeks as community stakeholders review the practical impacts of transitioning away from the VMC model.
