Historic treaty a ‘new era’ but remains a long journey
The historic treaty laws mark a “new era” for Indigenous people, but landmark negotiations won’t begin until the new year.
Victoria has become the first Australian jurisdiction to pass treaty legislation establishing the Gellung Warl, a new body within the state’s First Peoples’ Assembly with authority to make decisions on matters directly affecting Indigenous people.
Although the law has received approval from parliament, agreement negotiations are still some time away.
The laws will need to be approved by governor Margaret Gardner, and the agreement will then need to be ratified by a public signing between the government and the First People’s Assembly in Federation Square on December 12.
Victoria Agreement and First People’s Minister Natalie Hutchins said even then the earliest negotiations could begin after July 2026 – when representatives of the Battle of Gellung are elected.
“The agreement will happen and frankly other states will be happy to work with us to continue to implement it and also tell the truth,” he said.
The National Native Title Council said despite the long timeline, Victoria’s landmark treaty legislation showed other states and territories what was possible.
Chief executive Jamie Lowe said: “The treaty does not take away the harsh realities of dispossession.”
“It acknowledges that Victoria was built on stolen land and charts a path forward.
“This is just the beginning of a new era of agreements.”
UNSW law associate professor Harry Hobbs said it had taken Victoria more than a decade to get to the point of passing treaty legislation because it had never been done before in Australia.
“Now other jurisdictions in Australia can look at what Victoria has done and say ‘if we go ahead with a treaty process we can learn from what they’ve done’ because it’s so important for the rest of the country,” he told AAP.
The Federation of Islamic Councils of Australia applauded the legislation and called on all Australian states, territories and the federal government to follow Victoria’s lead.
“Reconciliation cannot be a symbolic gesture, it must be a structural and sustainable commitment to justice and equity,” President Rateb Jneid said. he said.
The state opposition does not believe the deal is the best way to bridge the gap; The Liberals are promising to repeal the law within 100 days if they win government at the next state election.
