Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister John Castrilli has announced that as of March 1, 2009 the Office of Multicultural Interests will formally become part of the Department of Local Government and Regional Development.

Mr Castrilli said this move would result in a better alignment of his portfolio responsibilities.

“The Office of Multicultural Interests has an important role to play in Western Australia and I believe this move will create greater synergies across my portfolio responsibilities, especially the grass roots and community development functions of local government, regional development and heritage,” the Minister said.

Under the previous government the Office of Multicultural Interests was administrated by the Department for Communities.