‘The beginning of the end for Victoria’: Readers react to historic Treaty Bill passing parliament

More than nine in ten Herald Sun readers say the historic Treaty Bill will only divide Victorians, slamming the Allan government for pushing the legislation “directly against the will of the people”.

More than nine in ten Herald Sun readers say Victoria’s historic Treaty Bill — which passed parliament on Thursday evening — will only divide the state, slamming the Allan government for pushing the legislation “directly against the will of the Victorian people”.

MPs and the public gallery cheered and roared as the Australian-first legislation enabling a Treaty with Indigenous Australian passed upper house just before 9pm.

Celebrations erupt in parliament after Victoria makes history as the first state in Australia to negotiate a Treaty with First Peoples.

It makes way for the establishment of a new Indigenous council, which the government must speak to when making new rules, policies or laws regarding Indigenous people. The council will also be able to question ministers and hold public hearings to ensure the government is held accountable to promises.

The Treaty will also mandate teaching on Indigenous “truth-telling” at all schools in Victoria, and see some national parks and waterways across the state renamed to their First Peoples’ name.

But early poll results show 94 per cent of Herald Sun readers believe the Treaty will “drive us apart”, while just 3 per cent thing it will bring the state together. Another 3 per cent were still deciding, according to poll results as of Friday morning.

Readers slammed the government for keeping Treaty negotiations “secretive”, saying the government should have listened when the majority of Victorians voted “no” in the Voice to parliament referendum.

Here’s what readers had to say about Victoria’s Treaty Bill

Gary: “This needs to be repealed as soon as there is a change of government, I didn’t vote for this.”

Colin: “Sad day for Victoria.”

Martha: “Watch our taxes increase to pay for more welfare and handouts. Vote Jacinta out.”

Paul: “Jacinta reinforcing that democracy is well and truly dead in this State. Authoritarian rule is the order of the day in Victoria.”

TM3: “There is nothing to celebrate. This is another nail in the coffin of the once great state of Victoria. I despair for our future.”

Daniel: “Glad we spent millions voting against this, for it to be passed state side regardless. This Labour government has no situational awareness or consideration for the people that they govern.”

Readers have slammed the Allan government for acting against Victoria’s ‘no’ vote in the referendum. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

Rob: “This will see Jacinta go down in history as launching the absolute deterioration of the nation.”

Kevin: “Well here we are a nail has been hammered into any chance of becoming a one nation. There will now be so much division and discrimination.”

Christine: “Can this state get any worse under this disgraceful secretive government? Yes it can and it has with this Treaty.”

Lawrence: “Labor, woke priorities, not the priorities of actual Victorians. Meanwhile the home invasions continue unabated while the state is broke. Onya Cinta.”

Therese: “What a deceitful government we have. They have to go ASAP.”

Graeme: “How to divide a nation.”

James: “Well I have always treated people based on their character, now I learn this is wrong I need to consider what they are and not who they are.”

John: “We voted NO for this type of separate voice to parliament. We were never given a vote about a treaty which was kept silent for many years.”

Aileen: “The beginning of the end for Victoria.”

Phillip: “Victorian Labor and activists celebrate. The majority of Victorians feel sick.”

Ming: “They cannot show any poll with majority support for this. This is directly against the will of the Victorian people, as shown by relentless polling and the guidance of The Voice.”

Find out more about the Treaty here.