US EditionVictoria Passes Australia's First Indigenous Treaty Law
- On Thursday night, October 30, Victoria's parliament passed the Statewide Treaty Bill, making Victoria the first Australian state to enable a treaty with Indigenous peoples amid tears and applause.
- After generations of failed federal efforts, the state moved to pass a treaty acknowledging that Aboriginal Australians held sovereignty long before the colonial fleet in 1788, following a government inquiry earlier this year that found genocide.
- The legislation creates new institutions including an elected Indigenous assembly, Nginma Ngainga Wara Outcomes and Justice Commission, and supports the Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna truth-telling process, with Ngarra Murray saying, `This is a historic moment for our people.`
- The negotiated Treaty requires a formal apology from the state government of Victoria to the First Peoples of Victoria, expected in the coming weeks, and will be signed by the end of the year after royal and cultural assent.
- Nationally, the issue remains divisive after Australians in 2023 overwhelmingly voted "no" in a national referendum, while Federal Senator Bridget McKenzie called the bill "appalling" and the Victorian Coalition vowed repeal.
52 Articles
52 Articles
For the first time in Australian history, a state has entered into an official treaty with its Indigenous people. In Victoria, where Melbourne is located, Aboriginal people will now have a say in policies that affect their lives. The state government calls it a historic step toward reconciliation and recognition of the injustices inflicted on Indigenous people for centuries.
In Australia, the state of Victoria has signed a state treaty with the Aborigines.
Why Australian treaty with indigenous people is being called 'historic'
Victoria has become the first Australian state to sign a formal treaty with Indigenous traditional owners. The new legislation creates the First Peoples Assembly, a permanent body that will advise the government and strengthen Indigenous representation in policymaking.
Emancipation: Thanks to the treaty, the First Nations would have more say in matters such as health, education, housing, and justice. The…
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