Jacinta Allan tight-lipped on Treaty demands as negotiations begin

The Premier has refused to reveal what demands the government will consider as part of historic Treaty negotiations despite pledging to provide the Victorian community with regular updates on progress.

Jacinta Allan has refused to reveal what demands the government will consider as part of historic Treaty negotiations which formally commenced on Thursday.

The Premier will now begin roundtable talks with representatives from government, her Department and elected members of the First People’s Assembly to ultimately tackle the issues that Indigenous Victorians face.

The government on Thursday hosted a community ceremony at Darebin Parklands to declare the Treaty negotiations open.

Ms Allan has pledged to provide the Victorian community with regular updates on progress, but wouldn’t say whether the government was open to every demand that may come from the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.

“I’m not going to rule things in or out here today. We will have those negotiations at the table,” she said.

“I’ll just reiterate that we come to the table firmly committed to Treaty ... There will be points of difference, I’m sure, along the way. There will be points that we agree on, there will be points that we disagree on, but that’s the purpose of the negotiation framework.”

Premier Jacinta Allan says a Treaty is the way to ‘spark practical change’. Picture: David Crosling

It has widely been acknowledged that groups will be asking for more control over policy, better education about the historical treatment of Indigenous people during colonisation, and some parcels of land with cultural value to be handed back to Indigenous groups.

Any changes will ultimately be written into new legislation and put to the parliament.

Ms Allan said the negotiations will take as long as is needed and won’t be rushed.

But given the Coalition withdrew its support for a Treaty at the beginning of this year, the government will be eagerly looking to put the legislation to the parliament before Victorians head to the polls in 2026.

The opposition backed a Bill in 2022 to begin the Treaty process but in January walked back its support, citing concerns about community dividedness.

Premier Jacinta Allan address the media on Treaty negotiations. Picture: David Crosling

First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria co-chair Rueben Berg said the top priority out of negotiations is to “deliver better outcomes for our communities”.

“Treaty negotiations will draw a line in the sand, right past wrongs, and deliver real improvements to the lives of First Peoples - in housing, education, health, employment,” he said.

“There’s lots of things we need to work through.”

Ms Allan said a Treaty was the way to spark “practical change” is to “listen directly to the people who are affected by the policies implemented by the state”.

“We know we need to get better outcomes, and we know the outcomes right now are not fair, they’re not equal, because throughout history since colonisation, First Peoples in this state have been excluded from opportunity,” she said.

Mr Pesutto on Thursday said he didn’t believe a Treaty was the right path to address Indigenous disadvantage.

He called on Ms Allan to be transparent about what was being discussed in negotiations.

“I do believe it’s incumbent on Premier Jacinta Allan, at all stages now, to take the Victorian people in her confidence and make sure that all Victorians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, understand what’s being negotiated, what’s on the table and what’s not on the table,” he said.

“I don’t believe it’s appropriate that Victorians be kept in the dark about what could be in a Treaty.”