Victoria to get own version of Voice as Treaty advisory body First Peoples’ Assembly made permanent

Jacinta Allan has hit back at critics of her government’s plan to establish its own Voice to parliament, claiming the move was not about “changing the constitution” and would result in better outcomes for all Victorians.

Victoria is set to get its own Voice to parliament, with the state government moving to beef-up and make permanent a taxpayer-funded body that could have a say in all policy areas on behalf of Indigenous Victorians.

Supporters and critics alike say the expansion of the First Peoples’ Assembly will essentially create a state-based version of the Voice that was rejected in a national referendum in 2023.

But Jacinta Allan said the expansion of the assembly was not about “changing the constitution”, unlike the Indigenous Voice to Parliament that was rejected in a national referendum in 2023.

Despite claims the move would create a state-based version of the Voice, Ms Allan said on Monday it was rather about taking a “common sense approach” that would result in better outcomes for all Victorians.

“The key difference to the referendum that was put nationwide a couple of years ago, is that was about changing the constitution,” she said.

“This is not changing the Victorian constitution, it’s simply taking a common sense approach.

“It’s sitting the First Peoples’ Assembly – an ongoing representative body – into our existing parliamentary structures (and) the significant change is it will be a body where we will be listening (and) taking on their advice.”

The Premier sidestepped questions regarding the assembly’s proposed new powers and said the key focus of current negotiations was exploring how the taxpayer-funded body could “carry forward as the decision making body … where government can go to get advice”.

It is expected to be able to provide advice on all laws and government policies which affect Indigenous Victorians, from health and education to crime and development.

The government is yet to say whether any areas will be off limits for the assembly.

Jacinta Allan will make permanent the First Peoples’ Assembly. Picture: David Crosling

The move is set to create a state-based version of the Voice. Picture: Nadir Kinani

The move has taken shape in Treaty talks, and the Herald Sun can reveal the Allan government is now planning to permanently enshrine the assembly in legislation this year.

It is also expected to include a watchdog-style committee to oversee spending on Indigenous initiatives and progress on meeting the state’s Close The Gap targets.

Warren Mundine, who spearheaded the No campaign against the Voice, said it was “concerning” to see the state moving ahead with a model similar to what 54.15 per cent of Victorians rejected in the referendum.

“It’s the nonsense of it all,” he told the Herald Sun.

“It got voted down in Victoria by Victorians and now they are ignoring that democratic process.”

Gunditjmara respected person Aunty Jill Gallagher hit back at Mr Mundine, telling him to “stay in his own state” and “look after his own mob”.

She said it was time for Indigenous Victorians to have more of a say.

“The most important thing is we have an independent voice, which can start making and monitoring government policies and hold them to account,” she told the Herald Sun.

She argued the referendum was politicised and awash with “misinformation”, adding: “If Victorians fully understood what we were asking for, I think they would have supported it.”

The Voice proposal was rejected by 54 per cent of Victorians. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The national Voice proposal was voted down by 60.06 per cent of Australians, including 54.15 per cent of Victorians.

The First Peoples’ Assembly was established in 2018 under former premier Daniel Andrews as a representative body for Indigenous Victorians in Treaty negotiations.

It operates like a parliament with 33 members who are directly elected by Indigenous Victorians and paid at least $96,946.

It has already received hundreds of millions of dollars from the state government, including for a Self-Determination Fund to help traditional owners engage in Treaty negotiations and to fund activities to help Indigenous Victorians build wealth.

Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins said the permanent assembly would be “able to advocate for First Nations communities, provide advice, work on building community leadership capability and work with the Victorian government to close the gap between First Peoples and other Victorians”.

“If you listen to the people directly affected by policies, you get better outcomes – that’s common sense,” she said.

Jill Gallagher said it was time Victoria had an “independent voice” to represent Indigenous people. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Ms Allan and assembly co-chairs Rueben Berg and Ngarra Murray said in a joint statement that negotiations had progressed on “how an ongoing role for the First Peoples’ Assembly will ensure First Peoples can make decisions on matters that impact their futures”.

When asked about criticisms of the expanded assembly, Mr Berg told the Herald Sun: “This will mean better outcomes for First Peoples and for all Victorians.”

“In our first term, the assembly secured agreement with the Victorian government and bipartisan support in parliament to lay the foundations for Treaty-making,” he said.

“In our second term we are negotiating the first Statewide Treaty with the Victorian government.

“Negotiations are progressing on how the Assembly will make sure First Peoples can make decisions on matters that impact us.”

Originally published as Victoria to get own version of Voice as Treaty advisory body First Peoples’ Assembly made permanent