Victoria’s Liberal Party is facing calls to drop its support for the state’s Treaty process

Opposition Leader John Pesutto says it’s too soon to commit to support for the state’s Treaty process as the Victorian Liberal Party faces pressure to drop it.

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto says it’s too soon to commit to backing a Treaty with Indigenous Victorians.

The Coalition last year offered bi-partisan support for the establishment of a Treaty Authority to support future Treaty negotiations between Aboriginal Victorians and the State of Victoria.

On Wednesday Mr Pesutto refused to commit the Coalition to any future support for a Victorian Treaty.

It comes as senior Liberals say pressure from the party’s federal counterparts is mounting to abandon support for Treaty as they now view the state position as “unacceptable” following the failed Voice referendum.

They say the issue could emerge as a key challenge to Mr Pesutto’s leadership.

The Liberal Party’s state council last month backed a motion calling on the State Parliamentary team to oppose a Victorian Treaty.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto says it’s too soon to commit to backing a Treaty with Indigenous Victorians. Picture: Josie Hayden

“This proposal is to advance 3 per cent of the population over the interest of 97 per cent of the state,” the motion said.

“It is totally against any democracy. It would allow a very small part of the population to take control of our resources to the detriment of our economic and coherent right to exist. Apartheid in reverse!

“If you need any proof of the damage that this treaty would do to our way of life, look no further than Western Australia or New Zealand.”

Mr Pesutto said until the government developed Treaty specific legislation, he couldn’t commit to bi-partisan support.

“We haven’t seen anything from the government on Treaties, so when they present something we will consider it,” he said.

“Obviously it’s a matter of great interest to the community generally, not just one party, not just my party, to all parties and to people right across the community.

“They’re interested in this issue, it has a great deal of significance, we’ll look at the legislation if and when it comes, we’re not sure what the government proposes to do yet.

“There’s been a lot of talk but we’ll wait and see what they present.”

The matter of reversing the state party’s position on Treaty was raised at a partyroom meeting on Tuesday.

But a source inside the room said it was promptly “shut down”.

Victoria’s First Peoples’ Assembly is negotiating the state’s Treaty. Picture: Blake Byron Smit

It comes after Peter Dutton appeared to backtrack on a promise to hold a second referendum to constitutionally recognise Indigenous Australians.

The federal Opposition Leader made the pledge last month but it was quickly called into question after his Indigenous Australians spokeswoman, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, failed to declare support for the proposal.

Asked on Monday if he would send Australians back to the polls for a second referendum if he wins the next election, he declined to endorse the plan.

The Herald Sun has confirmed the matter of reversing the state party’s position on Treaty was raised at a partyroom meeting on Tuesday.

“They would want to think very carefully about it and not misinterpret the Voice result,” one MP said.

Peter Dutton appears to have backtracked on a promise to hold a second referendum to constitutionally recognise Indigenous Australians. Picture: Martin Ollman

That view was echoed by former Liberal Party strategist Tony Barry, who now runs bipartisan polling firm Redbridge.

“Whilst there might be public policy merits in refining the position on Treaty, the Liberals need to be careful they don’t learn the wrong lessons from the referendum,” Mr Barry said.

The Liberal Party’s state council last month backed a motion calling on the State Parliamentary team to oppose a Victorian Treaty.

“This proposal is to advance 3 per cent of the population over the interest of 97 per cent of the state,” the motion said.

“It is totally against any democracy. It would allow a very small part of the population to take control of our resources to the detriment of our economic and coherent right to exist. Apartheid in reverse!

“If you need any proof of the damage that this treaty would do to our way of life, look no further than Western Australia or New Zealand.”