Victoria has moved closer to becoming the first state in Australia to establish a Treaty with First Peoples, after the Statewide Treaty Bill passed the lower house of Parliament last week.
The legislation, backed by Labor and Greens MPs, creates the framework for negotiating a statewide Treaty between the Victorian Government and Traditional Owners. It will now progress to the upper house for debate in the week beginning 28 October.
While many celebrated the historic moment, the Opposition opposed the bill and pledged to repeal it if elected in 2026 — a move the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) condemned as a “step backwards” for First Peoples.
A “big moment” for First Peoples
First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria co-chair and Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung and Dhudhuroa woman Ngarra Murray described the bill’s passage as a significant milestone.
“This is a big moment for our people – legislation for Australia’s first treaty with First Peoples has now passed a house of Parliament,” she said in a statement.
“The principle at the heart of treaty is that Aboriginal people understand our communities best, and when we can use our local knowledge to come up with and deliver practical solutions, we get better outcomes. This is something we think everyone should be able to get behind.”
Her fellow co-chair, Gunditjmara man Rueben Berg, urged the Opposition to reconsider its stance.
“We have been walking this journey to treaty for a decade now, and for most of those years, we had the opposition by our side,” Berg said.
“Aboriginal voices from across the state have been clear that treaty is the change we need to create a better future for our people. As the bill moves to the upper house, my message to Liberal and National representatives is it’s not too late to again walk with us.”
Opposition vows repeal
The Victorian Liberal Party has committed to scrapping the treaty framework if it wins government, promising to repeal the legislation within its first 100 days.
Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Melina Bath said the Coalition would instead establish a new department.
“Well, first of all, the First Nations Victoria will have one minister. It will create an advisory body. That advisory body will listen broadly, and we welcome members who may be now part of the first People’s Assembly to be part of that advisory body, but it will extend further than that,” Bath told media.
Strong criticism
The Opposition’s position has drawn sharp criticism from VALS, which warned that reversing the progress would harm the hard-fought path towards justice and self-determination for Aboriginal communities.
“This is a step backwards for First Peoples,” VALS said in a statement, underscoring the significance of the legislation as a foundation for meaningful change.
What comes next
With the bill passing the lower house, all eyes now turn to the upper house debate. Supporters remain hopeful the legislation will withstand political opposition, while critics argue an advisory model would better serve communities.
For now, the passage of the bill marks a historic step in Victoria’s journey towards a Treaty — one that could shape the future of Indigenous-State relations in Australia.
