First Statewide Treaty Agreement Being Confirmed

Victoria has reached a major milestone in its decade-long Treaty process, with the state government and the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria confirming in-principle agreement on Australia’s first Treaty.

The statewide Treaty Agreement is designed to reset the relationship between government and First Peoples, acknowledging the past while building a future based on respect, trust and integrity.

The Victorian Government will introduce the Statewide Treaty Bill to Parliament, which proposes to make the First Peoples’ Assembly permanent and expand its responsibilities. If passed, the Bill will enable the negotiated Treaty Agreement to be signed by both parties.

The Assembly would be led by elected members, providing representation for First Peoples in decision-making on issues directly affecting them. It would also be tasked with truth-telling and healing programs, managing community infrastructure funds, and making statutory appointments such as First Peoples representatives on the Heritage Council of Victoria.

The 2021 Census recorded 65,646 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria, representing 1.0 per cent of the state’s population. Of these, 61,865 identified as Aboriginal only, 2,083 as Torres Strait Islander only, and 1,692 as both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

Debate on Treaty

The Treaty process has generated mixed opinions. Supporters argue it is a step toward recognition, reconciliation, and self-determination. Critics, however, raise concerns about divisiveness, effectiveness, and representation.

Some argue that a Treaty risks entrenching division between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Others see it as largely symbolic, questioning whether it will lead to meaningful improvements in health, education, and social outcomes.

There are also concerns about whether the Assembly can represent the diverse interests of local Indigenous communities. Practical challenges are noted too, with critics pointing to the significant time, political effort, and resources needed to implement a Treaty that may not deliver immediate results.

Some Indigenous leaders warn against government-led processes that risk sidelining grassroots voices, while others emphasise the absence of a national treaty as a complicating factor. Historical comparisons are also raised, with reference to broken treaties in countries like the United States, underscoring the importance of long-term accountability.

Cost of the process

Since 2016, around $382 million has been spent on Victoria’s Treaty process, including the establishment of the Treaty Authority and community consultation. The government’s figures show about $308 million has been spent since the 2020–21 budget. Future costs are projected to reach about $586 million by 2029, with the new Indigenous body, Gellung Warl, set to receive more than $70 million annually.

Bottom line: The confirmed costs sit in the hundreds of millions, with about $382 million already spent and total expenditure expected to reach $586 million by 2029. Higher projections in the billions have been raised by critics but remain speculative and politically contested.

Despite differing views on cost and outcomes, the introduction of the Bill marks what the government describes as a historic milestone in Victoria’s path toward truth and Treaty.