Labor pledges $400K to Chinese New Year Festival

A re-elected Victorian Labor Government says it will provide $400,000 for the Melbourne Chinatown Chinese New Year Festival. 

As part of a $12 million program to “support multicultural festivals and events, across our state”, Premier Daniel Andrews and Labor’s candidate for Melbourne Rebecca Thistleton announced the commitment to support Chinatown’s annual Chinese New Year event. 

“For more than 42 years, the Melbourne Chinatown Chinese New Year Festival has delighted and entertained Victorians, with up to 100,000 people coming together to enjoy the entertainment and attractions,” a statement from Premier Andrews said. 

“Victoria’s cultural diversity is what makes our state great – and multicultural festivals and events are an important way to celebrate the contribution communities have made – and continue to make.” 

“Labor is doing what matters – we’ll support multicultural festivals and events that celebrate dance, music, language, art and food, making sure they’re bigger and better than ever.” 

Ms Thistleton said her party would “keep doing what matters” in backing important Chinese community celebrations in the CBD. 

“Victoria’s Chinese community is an essential part of Melbourne’s story and our Chinatown is the oldest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. This investment will celebrate and share that contribution,” she said. 

The commitment by Labor, which followed other funding pledges for numerous other cultural events around the city such as Chinese New Year in Box Hill, is understood to have been pushed behind the scenes by City of Melbourne councillor Philip Le Liu. •