First Nations committee to provide advice to City of Melbourne on key policies

Every City of Melbourne councillor has voted in favour of the development of a committee to advise council on strategies, policies and plans that may impact First Nations communities.

City of Melbourne councillors voted unanimously for the establishment of a First Nations advisory committee. Picture: David Crosling

The City of Melbourne will soon have an Indigenous voice to council after a motion was unanimously passed to establish a First Nations advisory committee.

All 11 councillors voted in favour of the motion at Town Hall on Tuesday night, paving the way for the City of Melbourne to have an Indigenous voice to council for the first time.

A report to the Future Melbourne committee, which passed the motion, states the First Nations committee will be provided with opportunities to “participate in the governance of the council”.

The role of the committee will be to “provide advice to inform the development and implementation of strategies, policies and plans adopted by the City of Melbourne on matters that may impact First Nations people and communities”, according to the draft terms of reference.

A First Nations committee will provide advice to inform the development and implementation of strategies, policies and plans. Picture: Darrian Traynor

“The City of Melbourne is committed to leading by example and meaningfully engaging with First Nations communities to build respect for their heritage, culture and knowledge,” it reads.

“First Nations voices and aspirations must be embedded in our core business and decision-making at every level as we strive for reconciliation, recognition, respect and truth-telling.”

The motion comes five months after the Indigenous Voice to Parliament was voted down at a referendum, with only 39 per cent of Australians voting ‘Yes’.

However, most city dwellers supported the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, with 77 per cent of people in the federal electorate of Melbourne voting ‘Yes’.

The City of Melbourne became the first capital city council last year to “adopt a firm position” on the referendum, throwing its support behind the ‘Yes’ vote.

At the time, the council said it did not have a “formal First Nations voice of its own to guide its decision-making on First Nations related matters”.

But it will now follow in the footsteps of the City of Darebin, which has had an Indigenous voice to council for more than 20 years.

The City of Yarra also has an Indigenous voice to council after the Yana Ngargna Advisory Group was established a number of years ago.

On Tuesday night, Lord Mayor Sally Capp seconded the motion to establish the committee, declaring it was “important that we do this”.

“I’m looking forward to that increased engagement,” she said.

“I know we will get a lot of value out of it.”

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the council must “elevate” Indigenous voices. Picture: Julian Smith

Dr Olivia Ball, who moved the motion, said it has “taken us too long to get to this point”.

“I’m very glad to finally be here establishing an advisory committee of First Nations people to the City of Melbourne,” she said.

“We acknowledge everyday that we are governing, living and working on unceded land.”

The City of Melbourne stands on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation.

The committee will be made up of 12 representatives, including nine First Nations representatives.

Ms Capp as the lead of the Aboriginal Melbourne portfolio, Dr Ball as the deputy lead of the portfolio and the Aboriginal Melbourne director Jason Eades will also sit on the committee.

The nine representatives must “collectively represent the broad demographics” of the City of Melbourne’s First Nations communities, including traditional owners, residents, workers and visitors.

Recommendations for appointments to the committee will be presented before the end of June.

The nine representatives will be paid $300 per meeting, with the committee to convene at least four times a year.

It is hoped that “strategic advice” provided will reduce disadvantages and increase social justice opportunities for First Nations people.

The representatives will be appointed for a maximum of three years.

In a statement, Ms Capp said: “This is a clear statement that council will meaningfully engage with First Nations communities on decisions that affect their communities.”

“We must champion First Nations peoples and elevate their voices and I look forward to working with the committee to strengthen our reconciliation journey.”