Wurundjeri elder Ian Hunter says it is ‘naive’ of the Allan government to think most people still back a treaty

Premier Jacinta Allan is forging ahead with a treaty despite the Coalition’s “giant U-turn”, however a Wurundjeri elder says it is “naive” to think it will be widely supported.

An Aboriginal elder says Victorians are “turning away” from the idea of an Indigenous treaty since the failed Voice to Parliament referendum.

Premier Jacinta Allan on Monday said a treaty with ­Indigenous Victorians could still be achieved despite the Coalition backing away from the process.

While she had stressed the need for bipartisan support, the Premier on Monday said the government was undeterred by the shock development and would forge ahead.

But Wurundjeri elder Ian Hunter told the Herald Sun it was “naive” of the government to think most people still backed a treaty following the failed referendum.

Ian Hunter says it is naive of the government to think most people back a treaty. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Since the referendum, ­especially with what’s occurring with cultural heritage in Victoria, people are turning away from the idea of treaty,” he said.

Mr Hunter’s view was mirrored by Indigenous Country Liberal MP Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who told the Herald Sun the Coalition was “taking a position of unity for their state”.

“A treaty is an inherently divisive proposition, you can’t have a treaty with your own citizens, and Australians have made it clear that they do not want to be divided along the lines of race,” she said.

The Coalition abruptly withdrew support for a treaty on Sunday in a move that took some backbench MPs by surprise.

A treaty with ­Indigenous Victorians could still be achieved without bipartisan support, Premier Jacinta Allan says. Picture: Getty

It followed revelations in the Herald Sun last week of huge construction delays sparked by cultural heritage management laws.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto on Monday raised concerns over “secrecy” around the government’s plans for an Indigenous treaty and questioned whether the process would lead to better outcomes for Aboriginals.

But the Premier said the Coalition’s decision was a “giant U-turn”, accusing the opposition of using cultural heritage concerns to “crab walk away from treaty”.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has raised concerns over the government’s ‘secrecy’. Picture: Ian Currie

She said while the framework for negotiations with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria had passed through the parliament with bipartisan support last year, “there is still a long way to go”.

Ms Allan claimed the Coalition had not discussed the decision with the Indigenous community, which had “been left to pick up the pieces”.

But Victorian Nationals leader and opposition spokesman on Aboriginal affairs Peter Walsh said he had ­indeed spoken to First Peoples’ Assembly co-chairman Rueben Berg.

“I’ve raised (these issues) with them continuously over the last six months,” he said.

Despite several questions, Opposition Leader John Pesutto refused to reveal when shadow cabinet came to the decision to ditch its support for treaty.

The Liberal leader said the Coalition was still committed to closing the gap and working with Indigenous leaders.

The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria said the decision was “disappointing, but not surprising” and that there was still a “clear path to treaty”.

“Of course, we would have liked to have kept treaty above party politics and our door will remain open to politicians of all persuasions, but there is a clear path to treaty ahead,” it said.