Thursday, 20 June 2024

Victorian Multicultural Commission

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:28): (579) My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Minister, I refer to your role in fostering social harmony as Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and I ask: have you given the Victorian Multicultural Commission instructions or even a request to combat the rising antisemitism in our universities, outside electorate offices and in the broader community?

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:29): Thank you for the question. It is an important issue, and of course I want to acknowledge that the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza is resulting in a lot of distress across the community for many. That is something that of course the government is concerned about, and wherever we can we are trying to support our communities to keep social cohesion at the forefront and also to ensure that we show leadership when it comes to not tolerating any forms of violence or hate speech, including Islamophobia and antisemitism. I do meet regularly with the chair and the deputy chair of the VMC, and we do talk about these issues regularly. Viv Nguyen, the chair of the VMC, has taken a strong leadership role in terms of meeting with our diverse communities. She has been holding discussions between multifaith leaders across the state about these very sensitive and distressing issues, and she will continue to, I am sure, advocate strongly for social cohesion, which is the tenet of the role of the VMC. I will continue to support her work and the work of the VMC as much as I possibly can. I know that they also have very strong engagement right across regional Victoria as part of their regional networks, and there has never been a more important time for the VMC to continue to do that grassroots, community-based work. Let me assure you, Mr Davis, that tackling Islamophobia and antisemitism is at the forefront of their considerations as they talk deeply with community members right across the state.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:31): I thank the minister for her response. I just make one point, that Ms Nguyen did take down a Facebook post, deleted it on 8 October, so I draw that to your attention. Minister, will you remove Mr Mohamed Mohideen from his position on the Victorian Multicultural Commission following his social media posts featuring highly offensive and inflammatory anti-Israel sentiments?

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:31): I thank Mr Davis for that question. I am obviously aware of the issues that he referred to. Those matters have been the subject of an investigation conducted by my department with the VMC, and those matters have been dealt with and the matter is closed.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, would the minister release that report?

The PRESIDENT: That is like a supplementary supplementary. That is not in our standing orders.