Despite opposition from the Liberal camp, a bill to enable Australia’s first treaty between government and First Peoples passed Victoria’s lower house with strong support from Labor and the Greens.
In a “big moment” for First Peoples, the Victorian lower house passed the historic Statewide Treaty Bill late last week and will move up to the upper house to be debated on the week starting 28 October.
First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria co-chair and Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung and Dhudhuroa woman Ngarra Murray thanked the Labor and Greens members who supported it.
“This is a big moment for our people – legislation for Australia’s first treaty with First Peoples has now passed a house of Parliament.
“The principle at the heart of treaty is that Aboriginal people understand our communities best, and when we can use our local knowledge to come up with and deliver practical solutions, we get better outcomes,” Ngarra said in a statement.
“This is something we think everyone should be able to get behind.”
First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria co-chair and Gunditjmara man Rueben Berg invited the opposition to change tack.
“We have been walking this journey to treaty for a decade now, and for most of those years, we had the opposition by our side,” he said.
“Aboriginal voices from across the state have been clear that treaty is the change we need to create a better future for our people.
“As the bill moves to the upper house, my message to Liberal and National representatives as it’s not too late to again walk with us.”
If they win the next election, the Victorian Liberal Party has vowed to repeal the treaty legislation within the first 100 days.
Shadow minister for Aboriginal affairs Melina Bath said it would instead establish a new department of government.
“Well, first of all, the First Nations Victoria will have one minister.
“It will create an advisory body. That advisory body will listen broadly, and we welcome members who may be now part of the first People’s Assembly to be part of that advisory body, but it will extend further than that,” Bath said to media.
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
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