Positive signs for creation of indigenous treaty

Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner Jill Gallagher is keen for Australia’s first full indigenous treaty to be negotiated.

Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner Jill Gallagher wants to see an indigenous treaty negotiated before the end of the Victorian government’s term. Picture: Aaron Francis

Australia’s first full indigenous treaty could be ready to be negotiated before the end of the Victorian government’s term, building on momentum for ­national reform.

Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner Jill Gallag­her said it was important to build on the goodwill of the Andrews government as indigenous groups prepare to elect the so-called First Peoples Assembly.

Ms Gallagher is instrumental in setting up the framework for treaty negotiations in Victoria, the lead state backing multiple deals with indigenous communities. Indigenous Victorians will vote in coming weeks to elect the members of the FPA, which will establish the ground rules for treaty.

Rather than being one treaty, there will almost certainly be multiple treaties across the state with the details of any agreements to eventually be thrashed out between communities and the government of the day.

A special fund will be set up to enable Aboriginal groups to negotiate with the government of the day.

The Andrews government is strongly backing the treaty process, Ms Gallagher said, but she expressed concerns about her ­relationship with the Coalition.

“I would like to see one local treaty to be commenced, to be negotiated in this term of government (in Victoria),’’ she said.

The government has been working frenetically in the background to lay the groundwork for the new treaty framework.

“It is possible for the government to eventually negotiate treaties without passing ­legislation or changing the ­Constitution.

“There can be no true reconciliation without treaty,” a government spokeswoman said.

“That’s why we’re pushing ahead — we’ve established the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission and passed Australia’s first treaty legislation — to ensure we achieve self-­determination and better outcomes for our first peoples.”

Victorian opposition Aboriginal affairs spokesman Peter Walsh said the opposition’s position was to ensure that whatever decisions were made, there was evidence of improvement in key areas such as education, health and incarceration.

Ms Gallagher said she felt indigenous groups faced challenges in Victoria because of a lack of support from the ­Coalition. She felt pressure to ­expedite the process as a result. “I wish we didn’t have them (pressures) but we do have political pressure,” she said.

Last week, the Queensland government announced an ­expert panel to pursue the treaty issue, possibly following the Victorian model.

Former High Court chief justice Murray Gleeson declared last week that a new indigenous voice to parliament could be created without eroding the power of the nation’s politicians.