Allan government running more than 10 taskforces covering major issues

The Allan government is running more than 10 taskforces aimed at tackle issues ranging from LGBTQIA+ to drought and anti-Semitism, drawing mixed reactions from advocates.

The Allan government is running multiple taskforces tackling major issues. Picture: Ian Currie

The Allan government is running more than 10 taskforces tackling major issues including drought, LGBTQIA+ issues and anti-Semitism, prompting some advocates to call for “less talk and more action”.

Premier Jacinta Allan announced a new “Anti-Hate” Taskforce in response to a horror night of anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne last week including a synagogue being firebombed.

The move made it the second working group created under Ms Allan in response to rising Jewish hatred in just eight months.

Former Zionism Victoria executive director Zeddy Lawrence said there has been “enough talk” over the last 21 months since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terror attack.

“I would hope this is more than just a talking shop and results in some concrete measures being implemented to tackle the scourge of anti-Semitism,” he said.

“What we need now is action before another synagogue is torched.

“Next time we might not be so lucky and the people inside won’t get out in time.”

Other working groups, however, have been praised, like the Drought Taskforce, which was launched earlier this year in response to crippling dry conditions across the state.

The government’s drought-related taskforce has won plaudits from the community.

The group met three times before the state committed $75m to a raft of new measures including rates relief and community grants designed directly to help landholders.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking said the panel allowed people in the know to give “frank and fearless advice”.

“It meant the right people were getting in front of the government and the politicians, and telling them what they need to know to make good decisions,” he said.

“So it was very successful from that point of view.”

Other taskforces to be announced since the end of 2023 cover apprenticeships, outdoor recreation, maternity, planning transparency and LGBTQIA+ communities.

In December, when the Adass Israel synagogue was firebombed, Ms Allan announced a taskforce called LEAH (Local Escalation and Help group) aimed at tackling anti-Semitism at a community level.

Meanwhile, the state’s rental taskforce was probed at the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, with opposition members raising concerns that it had only resulted in a small number of fines, despite its $4 million budget.

Consumer Affairs Minister Gabrielle Williams has said the unit is essential to cracking down on dodgy landlords.

Opposition Leader Brad Battin said Victorians “don’t need more talkfests, taskforces or excuses – they need action”.

“Every time there’s a crisis, Jacinta Allan’s response is more reviews and paperwork, while the problems go unfixed and Victorians are left to deal with the chaos,” he said.

A Victorian government spokesman, however, defended using task forces as a tool to test policies, saying when you listen to those affected “you get better results.”

“In under a month, our Drought Taskforce listened to farmers and regional communities and rapidly responded to their needs – delivering a $75 million support package which included immediate relief for those doing it tough and legacy infrastructure to improve resilience and water security into the future,” she said.

She said the anti-hate task force had brought ministers, Victoria Police and community leaders together and that the apprenticeships task force had helped establish a dedicated regulator and launch a $9 million package to improve safety and mental health support.

Originally published as Allan government running more than 10 taskforces covering major issues