The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) has released its policy platform for the upcoming 2026 Victorian State Election.
After a year of community consultation around the state, ECCV has launched A Victoria for All of Us, a platform outlining 14 recommendations to strengthen communities, create belonging and improve wellbeing and safety.
The platform tackles issues such as community language education, gambling harm and intergenerational tensions in multicultural families and provides a practical roadmap for the next government.
ECCV CEO Farah Farouque said: “Multicultural voters matter in this election. Our voices, priorities and hopes must help shape Victoria’s future. This election is a test for our democracy as some loud voices in the public debate seek to divide us.”
Ms Farouque said the November 28 poll has to be about more than winning votes in key electorates.
“It is about whether our political leaders are deeply listening to our diverse communities and responding to key concerns such as growing racism and hate and providing access to services that respond to needs. ECCV’s platform paints a positive vision for a Victoria where everyone belongs.”
ECCV is calling on all candidates to commit to five priorities:
- Invest in Victoria’s multicultural sector which supports communities and is key to ensuring social cohesion: provide sustainable, long-term funding to ECCV, as the peak body, regional and grassroots community organisations.
- Eliminate racism and all forms of hate, including antisemitism and Islamophobia, by investing in community-led programs.
- Invest in multicultural ageing through place-based initiatives and a statewide Centre of Excellence led by ECCV.
- Strengthen intercultural connection between diverse communities by piloting two inclusive Intercultural hubs in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
- Prioritise prevention over punishment with early intervention initiatives to reduce youth justice system overrepresentation in some multicultural communities.
“These recommendations will strengthen communities, improve support across all stages of life and create more opportunities for connection. We are asking parties and candidates to commit to these priorities and help build a stronger Victoria for all of us,” Ms Farouque said.
ECCV Board Chairperson Silvia Renda said that the platform reflects the priorities of communities across Victoria, both in metropolitan and regional areas.
“The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria is not aligned with any political party. We work constructively with governments of all persuasions because our focus is and will always be on the interests of multicultural communities”.
Ms Renda added: “Government will lead the system, but the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria will remain the trusted community-led partner that helps ensure the system listens, responds and delivers”.
ECCV is Victoria’s independent peak body for multicultural communities, representing more than 230 member organisations and advocating for migrant and refugee communities for over 50 years. It is Australia’s first ever multiethnic council and has been influential in shaping multicultural policies since 1974.
Media Inquiries
For media enquiries or more information, please contact us: media@eccv.org.au | Phone: (03) 9354 9555.
Read ECCV’s 2-page election platform summary here.
