New legislation for Victorian Treaty revealed, set to be introduced to parliament

Victoria’s version of the Voice — that will have a say in all policy areas on behalf of Indigenous groups — is set to be introduced to parliament as part of the Allan government’s Treaty bill.

New legislation for a statewide Treaty has been unveiled by the Allan government and will be introduced to the Victorian parliament after the winter break.

The Labor government confirmed a new Statewide Treaty Bill had been drafted, and will make the First People’s Assembly permanent.

The taxpayer-funded First People’s Assembly will have be consulted on all policy areas impacting 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.

According to a joint statement by the government and the assembly on Friday, the bill will pave the way for the body with boosted powers, as revealed by the Herald Sun this week.

The statement said the beefed up assembly will give “decision-making powers to make sure First Peoples’ communities can design and deliver practical solutions for their communities”.

However, it has not been revealed how much funding the new approach will cost.

It also revealed further issues being negotiated during closed-door round tables in recent months as part of Treaty.

These included:

• Aboriginal Community Infrastructure Program, an honour role to run during NAIDOC week.

• First Peoples’ seats on government boards and entities.

• Truth-telling, healing and reconciliation events across Victorian towns and regions.

• Assembly members will represent the views of the community and give advice to the government. They will have the ability to ask questions to ministers and will also establish a requirement for ministers and government departments to involve the Assembly when creating laws and policies that specifically affect First Peoples.

• Establish an independent system required by the National Agreement to Close the Gap that offers specific solutions and recommendations to enhance outcomes for First Peoples.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan at the welcome ceremony before her appearance before the Yoorrook Justice Commission. Picture: David Crosling

The statement was released Friday morning after the controversial Yoorrook Justice Commission’s final report was released this week, which included 100 demands spanning land rights, redress schemes, education, and health policies.

The joint statement confirms that some of the demands in the report will be included in the new legislation.

It comes after Ms Allan refused to publicly rule out tax relief, funding and land grants for Indigenous Victorians after a bombshell report called for compensation to pay for historical wrongs, despite warning the demand would send the state broke.

The joint statement by Ms Allan and Assembly co-chairs Ngarra Murray and Rueben Berg said:

“The proposed body will sit within our existing parliamentary and democratic structures. It will not have veto power on policy or legislation — a power that does not exist under Victoria’s parliamentary system.

Under Victoria’s Statewide Treaty Bill, the proposal is that the First Peoples’ Assembly would be a statutory corporation.”

Leader of the state opposition Brad Battin said the government was clearly planning to rush the legislation through with little scrutiny.

“Labor knows full well that Victorians voted against the Voice – and they’re hoping no one notices this announcement,” Mr Battin said.

“This is the culmination of a treaty process negotiated behind closed doors and without transparency. This is their version of consultative government.

“We currently have no details on what this Bill will contain. If Labor really cared, they would be upfront with Victorians on how they intend to negotiate their treaty.”

More to come...

Originally published as New legislation for Victorian Treaty revealed, set to be introduced to parliament