The Victorian Government and First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria made history today with the opening of negotiations for Australia’s first Treaty.
Premier Jacinta Allan; Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Natalie Hutchins; the Victorian Government and the elected members of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria today hosted a community ceremony at Darebin Parklands on Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Country for the Ceremonial Opening of Treaty Negotiations.
“This is a historic day for our State and for our nation – Treaty will be a practical agreement, and a chance for all of us to build a more equitable and inclusive Victoria, which we can all take pride in,” said Minister Hutchins.
The first Statewide Treaty will be negotiated between the State of Victoria and the democratically elected body representing First Peoples, the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, in line with Treaty legislation and the Treaty Negotiation Framework.
“If you listen to the people directly affected by policies, you get better outcomes – that’s commonsense,” said Premier Allan.
“Treaty is about making a better and fairer state for every Victorian.”
The Premier said the Victorian Government had worked with First Peoples for the past eight years to lay the foundations for Treaty negotiations, including passing two Acts of Parliament and delivering on policies across every level of government.
Since 2019, the democratically elected Members of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria have been talking with their communities about how Treaty should be negotiated and what it should deliver.
“We commence these negotiations with the support of our communities,” said First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria Co-Chair, Ngarra Murray.
“Treaty is from the ground up and talking to our communities at every step. We are ready, we are prepared, and we look forward to a better future for our children, families and communities,” she said.
“Whether it’s caring for land and keeping culture strong or improving the way services like health and education are delivered at a local level, we want to negotiate a Treaty that will empower Aboriginal communities for generations to come,” said First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria Co-Chair, Rueben Berg.
“Treaty negotiations will draw a line in the sand, right past wrongs, and deliver real improvements to the lives of First Peoples – in housing, education, health, employment. The past cannot be changed. What we can do now is sit down respectfully and negotiate how we move forward.”
In addition to the Statewide Treaties to be negotiated by the Assembly, the various Traditional Owner groups across Victoria will be able to negotiate Treaties that reflect the priorities and aspirations in their local area, the Government said in a statement.
“Treaty is our opportunity to recognise the history we share and create a better and more equal future for all Victorians,” the Government said.
More details about the Statewide Treaty can be found at firstpeoplesvic.org/treaty-explainer.
