Treaty negotiation planning to begin in Victoria before First People’s Assembly elections

Members of the First Nations Assembly of Victoria will meet in Melbourne this week to finalise planning for treaty negotiations.

Treaty negotiations are set to begin after the assembly’s second general election in May.

This treaty is part of a larger push to combat issues affecting Indigenous people, including health, education, and justice.

The First People’s Assembly of Victoria is the democratic voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as they negotiate a treaty.

Assembly co-chair and Nira illim bulluk man Marcus Stewart said, “Very early in the process we agreed that we needed many Treaties in Victoria so Traditional Owners could focus on their areas, but we also knew we’d need a state-wide Treaty that can tackle the big overarching state-wide issues.”

Assembly co-chair and Bangerang and Wiradjuri elder Aunty Geraldine Atkinson said, “This is it – Treaty is going to happen in Victoria. You can either sit on the sidelines or you can get involved and help decide how strong our Treaty is.”

“This is about putting Aboriginal people in the driver’s seat so we can make a real difference to our communities. Get on board and be counted.”

A landmark Treaty Authority Bill passed in the Victorian Parliament’s lower house last year.

This legislation is the first of its kind and is designed to ensure the process of reconciliation is fair and just for First Nations people.

This bill is led by First Nations people and is grounded in their culture, lore and law. It allows for an Independent Treaty Authority to oversee negotiations and help resolve any disputes.