Multicultural Grants Program

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:27): The assistant minister is saying she doesn't need to provide advice. Can she confirm she never has provided advice? And has the assistant minister asked for potential grant applicants to send their proposals through to her directly?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:27): Every minister or assistant minister that is allocated with authority to look at grants would know that there is an area whereby priority funding can be reallocated. For example, last year we had the pandemic. Many of the Celebrate Together Grants, which are about organising major festivals and events, had to be returned to the department. In the estimates process, the Premier, as the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, already addressed that.

We are proud as a government that we will address the issues that are faced by the communities in terms of crisis in the pandemic. We will do everything possible to reallocate that funding to meet the needs of our vulnerable communities. We make no apologies for that. It is an area of grants that is returned to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and it is for the purpose of helping multicultural communities to overcome any issues that are impacted by the COVID pandemic.