QUICK FACTS
- As at the 2021 Census, 15 per cent of Tasmanians were born overseas.
- In 2023 Safe Haven Hub provided job readiness training, and access to employment which resulted in 108 training outcomes and 90 jobs.
- The Moonah Multicultural Hub provides support to thousands of migrants every year.
- After English the most common languages spoken in Tasmania are Mandarin, Nepali, Punjabi and Spanish.
Under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will:
- Deliver increased funding for the popular Moonah Multicultural Hub.
- Continue support for the Safe Haven Hub Multicultural Employment Services.
- Provide an uplift in annual funding to the peak body, the Multicultural Council of Tasmania.
- Deliver a new grant program for multicultural small business growth.
- Establish a new small Multicultural Community Festival Grants Program and support our existing iconic multicultural festivals.
- Respond to racism in our communities.
- Provide outreach to the North-West through the Migrant Resource Centre Northern Tasmania.
An important part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's future is to support our communities, including prioritising the essential services Tasmania needs, developing stronger communities and enhancing our regions.
The Tasmanian Liberals have always supported our multicultural communities, including establishing the Moonah Multicultural Hub, funding a multicultural hub in the North of the State, establishing and continuing to support Harmony Week, and establishing the Safe Haven Hub to provide education, support and employment pathways for refugees.
Our communities are becoming increasingly diverse, and Tasmania is home to people from countries across the world.
Deliver increased funding for the popular Moonah Multicultural Hub
It was a Liberal Government in partnership with the Glenorchy City Council that first established the Moonah Multicultural Hub in 2016 and this has continued to be an enduring initiative to support Tasmania's local multicultural communities.
The Hub is well-utilised with an average of 54 bookings per month and an estimated 20,189 people attending from various cultural groups in the 2022-23 financial year.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will provide two years of increased funding of $75,000 a year to the Hub, supporting the engagement of a Community Development Manager.
Continue funding the Safe Haven Hub Multicultural Employment Services
Run by Catholic Care, the Safe Haven Hub Multicultural Employment Services provides statewide employment and education pathway services for eligible migrants, humanitarian entrants and temporary visa holders who are facing barriers to employment. The Service has been running successfully since 2016, funded by the Liberal Government.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will provide another two years of funding to ensure more refugees and migrants can find meaningful employment.
Provide an uplift in annual funding to the peak body, the Multicultural Council of Tasmania
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will provide an uplift in annual funding to the Multicultural Council of Tasmania to $175,000 per annum for the next two years to assist with the implementation of the Multicultural Action Plan across our communities.
Deliver a new grant program for multicultural small business growth
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will establish a new multicultural grant program for our hardworking and enterprising multicultural small businesses.
Through a $400,000 grant program over two years, we will deliver specific support to eligible multicultural small businesses, with up to $5000 to help finance projects that build capability and help with new skills. Projects might include building a website, developing strategic marketing plans, advice, coaching or training.
This support is expected to assist more than 120 small businesses, supporting even more jobs for Tasmanians.
Establish a new small Multicultural Community Festival Grants Program and continue to support our existing multicultural festivals
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will provide $80,000 to establish a new Multicultural Small Community Festival Grants program over two years.
This will provide grants of up to $5,000 for small local community multicultural festivals to celebrate culture of our diverse communities, and bring people together to celebrate our great multicultural State.
The grant program will be a equal partnership program with local councils, so multicultural groups have the opportunity of doubling the funding they seek to run small festivals and events.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will, over the next four years, continue funding for:
- the Festa Italia festival;
- the Estia Street festival which celebrates the culture of our Greek community;
- the Chinese Lunar New Year festival; and
- the annual Diwali Festival.
Responding to racism in our communities
Recognising that social connections and belonging is key to long-term settlement in regional areas, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will deliver the resources to respond to racism in our communities.
We will invest $500,000 in a program that supports social connection and sense of belonging for migrant and refugee people and communities, in all regions of the State. We will work with all key stakeholders in the multicultural community to develop and implement a coordinated Strategy that takes practical steps to address racism and create awareness of the impacts of racism on many.
The Strategy will include $200,000 for a small state-wide inclusion grants program.
More outreach for the Migrant Resource Centre Northern Tasmania
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will deliver partnership funding to deliver $50,000 over two years, supported by local government partners, for a multicultural liaison role within the Mersey-Leven region.
Net Cost: $1.32 million over four years