Victoria made history this week, becoming the first state in Australia to pass formal treaty legislation with Indigenous traditional owners. The landmark move marked a major step toward truth-telling, justice and self-determination for First Peoples.
The Statewide Treaty Bill 2025 passed in parliament late on Thursday night to applause and tears, paving the way for the creation of a democratically elected body for First Peoples known as Gellung Warl.
What is Gellung Warl?
Gellung Warl will serve as a permanent, independent representative body for Aboriginal Victorians. It will be consulted on laws and policies that affect Indigenous communities and will advise government on matters relating to Treaty and self-determination.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the bill would be signed by the Victorian Government and the First Peoples’ Assembly in the coming weeks.
“Treaty gives Aboriginal communities the power to shape the policies and services that affect their lives,” she said.
“This is how we build a fairer, stronger Victoria for everyone.”
The structure of Gellung Warl will include two additional entities: one to monitor government accountability and another to continue the truth-telling work of the Yoorrook Justice Commission. These are expected to operate alongside the existing First Peoples’ Assembly, which will remain a key decision-making voice.
What the Treaty Will Deliver
The legislation commits the Victorian Government to delivering a formal apology to the First Peoples of Victoria.
It also includes education reforms requiring that all Victorian students from prep to year 10 learn about the state’s Indigenous history and cultures through a new curriculum based on findings from the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
To ensure Gellung Warl’s long-term sustainability, the bill establishes a special appropriation act that will guarantee ongoing funding, expected to amount to tens of millions of dollars annually once the body becomes fully operational. The legislation has now been referred to the governor for royal assent.
Debate and Opposition
While the passage of the Treaty was widely celebrated by Indigenous leaders and supporters, the Victorian Liberals have pledged to repeal the legislation within 100 days if elected. The opposition argues that a Treaty is not the best mechanism to improve outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians and has proposed instead to create a new department, First Nations Victoria, to oversee progress on Closing the Gap targets.
In parliament, Victorian Government minister Steve Dimopoulos clarified that the Treaty would not grant the Assembly powers to override parliamentary decisions.
“It has no veto power over the Victorian Government. The Victorian Parliament is sovereign. It always has been and it always will be,” he said.
“This is a permanent representative body chosen by Aboriginal voters for themselves to tell us what is important to them. It’s a consultative body that’s permanently in place and it has already been there temporarily for five years and it’s already led to better relationships between the government and First Peoples.”
Why It Matters
The passage of the Treaty Bill represents a milestone in Australia’s reconciliation journey and a new framework for partnership between the state and its First Peoples.
By embedding truth-telling, education and consultation into law, Victoria has laid the foundation for a more inclusive and accountable approach to governance, one that recognises the sovereignty and lived experiences of Aboriginal Victorians.
As the rest of the nation looks on, Victoria’s step toward Treaty may well become a model for how states and territories can move from words to meaningful action.
